Charlotte FC hosts the Columbus Crew on Saturday in a MLS Eastern Conference fixture. Charlotte is eighth in the conference table at 8-2-12 on 26 points with a goal difference -6. Charlotte was defeated on the road by Toronto 4-0 last Saturday. The loss was Charlotte's second straight and the club could not generate any sort of attack, failing to take a shot through the match's first 13 minutes.
Charlotte is back home after two consecutive losses on the road. Charlotte has seven wins in its first 10 matches at home this season.' Andre Shinyashiki is the leading goal scorer for Charlotte with six, while Karol Swiderski is the second leading goal scorer with five. Benjamin Bender is the leader in assists with five.
Columbus is sixth in the conference table at 7-9-5 on 30 points with a goal difference +5. Columbus is tied on points with fifth place Orlando City SC but trails with one less win. Columbus was held to a 0-0 draw at home by the New England Revolution last Saturday. Columbus put six shots on target but could not put any past Djordje Petrovic. Eloy Room made two saves for Columbus in a defensive struggle.
Columbus is unbeaten in nine consecutive matches with four wins and five draws, which is the longest active streak in the MLS. Columbus has only gone 10 consecutive matches or more unbeaten, twice in its history. Derrick Etienne and Lucas Zelarayan are the leading goal scorers for Columbus with five each, while Etienne and Zelarayan are the leaders in assists as well with five each.
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