It won’t get much tougher for Crew SC this season than it will be tonight in Chester, Pennsylvania, where it will play its first midweek game of the season against the Union.
Philadelphia (5-3-5) is in first place in the Eastern Conference, unbeaten in its past seven games (2-0-5) and unbeaten at Talen Energy Stadium (4-0-2).
Columbus (3-4-5) is in ninth place in the East and testing the depth of its roster. Five of its players are injured. Four more are away with their national teams.
Short week. Short bench. Small margin for error.
“There are no excuses,” Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said.