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

The Toros earned maximum points thanks to a brilliant second-half showing at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night, while Columbus won comfortably at home against Chicago Fire to clinch a playoff berth.

Match preview

Having not made the net ripple since June, Dallas marksmen Jesus Ferreira bagged a brace in the win at Salt Lake on Wednesday night, moving into second place in the club's all-time scoring charts on a productive evening at America First Field.

Maximum points in Utah last time out halted a worrying run of three matches without a win for the Toros, allowing Nico Estevez's men to move back into the top nine of the Western Conference standings after Minnesota United suffered defeat at the hands of Billy Sharp and LA Galaxy.

Despite sitting inside the playoff zone heading into Saturday night's match, Dallas are only five points ahead of 13th and know they must continue to pick up points to ensure a place in the post-season picture.

Estevez's side have enjoyed a good run of form at their Toyota Stadium home over the summer months, and the Hoops are currently seven matches without defeat in front of their own supporters in all competitions, with their last loss at home coming against Wayne Rooney's DC United back on July 5.

After finishing third in the Western Conference last term behind only Los Angeles FC and Austin FC, Dallas are enduring a slightly challenging campaign but will be determined to compete in the playoffs in consecutive campaigns.

Columbus Crew produced the perfect response following their heartbreaking defeat to Orlando City last weekend, beating Chicago 3-0 on home turf courtesy of Cucho Hernandez's second hat-trick since joining from Championship outfit Watford in the summer of 2022.

Supporters at the Lower.com Field had barely settled into their seats before the Colombian had got his name on the scoresheet three times, with the striker earning the match ball after just 23 minutes of the contest, representing the second-fastest hat-trick in the history of MLS.

A comfortable victory for the Crew - coupled with favourable results elsewhere on Wednesday night - meant that Wilfried Nancy's men secured a playoff berth for the first time since the 2020 season - a campaign in which they went on to lift the MLS Cup, with the aim now to clinch home-field advantage.

No side in the entire division has scored as many as Columbus' 60, and although that statistic will not make Dallas fans confident, Nancy's side have struggled to collect results on the road this term, with just 12 of their 48 points coming away from Lower.com Field.

Determined to make a push for the MLS Cup this term, the Crew moved decisively in the summer window to recruit attacker Diego Rossi from Turkish giants Fenerbahce, and the 25-year-old is beginning to create a formidable partnership with top scorer Hernandez.

Dallas Major League Soccer form:

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Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

Dallas remain without the services of winger Bernard Kamungo for Saturday night's clash, with the 21-year-old still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained earlier in the month.

Geovane Jesus was a regular starter for the Toros at right-back before picking up a knee injury, meaning Ema Twumasi should start in the hosts' backline after impressing in the win at Salt Lake last time out.

Youngster Tarik Scott is set to miss the remainder of the campaign regardless of whether Estevez's men reach the playoffs due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained in February.

Columbus are still light of options at left-back due to the absence of 23-year-old Will Sands, with the academy graduate picking up a knee injury during the defeat at Charlotte back on April 23.

Julian Gressel and Aidan Morris were both substituted at half-time during the 3-0 thrashing of Chicago on Wednesday night, but both are expected to retain their berths in Nancy's starting XI.

Dallas possible starting lineup:

Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Farfan; Fraser, Illarramendi, Arriola, Pomykal, Obrian; Ferreira

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:

Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah; Matan, Hernandez, Rossi

We say: Dallas 1-2 Columbus Crew

Dallas gave their playoff ambitions a massive boost with a stunning win at Salt Lake on Wednesday, but the visit of free-scoring Columbus to Toyota Stadium will be a much sterner test.

The Crew have their place in the playoffs secured but should still have the motivation required to record back-to-back maximums by seeing off the Toros on Saturday night.

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