Preview: Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the away side make the journey aiming to get themselves back on track off the back of a first defeat in six games last time out.

Match preview

Columbus Crew played out a thrilling 2-2 stalemate against FC Cincinnati when the sides went head to head at the TQL Stadium on Sunday.

Caleb Porter's men trailed 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to strikes from Brandon Vazquez and Matt Miazga but they managed to draw level both times through Derick Etienne and Steven Moreira.

The Black & Gold continue to hang on to the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference as they remain seventh with 36 points from 26 games this term.

Lying in store next for them is the challenge of an opposing outfit against whom Columbus Crew have a mixed record against with the three previous meetings yielding one loss, one win and most recently, one draw.

Having lost just one of their last seven games on home turf, Thursday's hosts will back themselves to come away with a positive result in front of their fans once again.

Inter Miami failed to pick up a third win in a row as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena on Sunday.

Phil Neville's men opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Gonzalo Higuain but were pegged back by Lewis Morgan, before goals from Daniel Edelman and Caden Clark turned the game around.

As a result, The Herons have fallen to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, level on points with their next opponents ahead of the meeting in Ohio.

With just one win from their last 11 away games, Thursday's visitors will need to get their act together on the road to aid their quest fro a playoff spot as the regular season enters into its final knockings.

Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:

Columbus Crew form (all competitions):

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Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:

Team News

Nineteen-year-old Ian Fray is yet to make an appearance for Inter Miami this term as he continues to battle with a long-term knee injury.

Leonardo Campana will miss a fifth consecutive game for the away side due to a muscle injury which the Ecuador international suffered early this month.

Alejandro Pozuelo was sent off in the defeat against New York Red Bulls last time out, making him ineligible to play a part in this one.

Columbus Crew's Pedro Santos was hauled off in the first half against Atlanta two Sundays ago and the forward is major doubt for Thursday's contest.

With four goals in his most recent five home outings for the hosts, Cucho will be looking to deliver the goods once again as the forward sets out to continue his fine start to life in America.

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:

Room; Santos, Degenek, Mensah, Moreira; Nagbe, Artur; Etienne, Zelarayan, Diaz; Cucho

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:

Callender; Gibbs, McVey, Lowe, Yedlin; Mota, Gregore; Lassiter, Vassilev, Rodriguez; Higuain

We say: Columbus Crew 2-1 Inter Miami

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