The lack of recent postseason meetings has diminished the intensity of Columbus-D.C. rivalry. But it should be renewed Saturday at Crew Stadium when the two teams face off on Saturday with first place in the Eastern Conference at stake. “I don’t count the points,” Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. “It’s importance for us to beat D.C. Whether we’ll be in first place or second place is not that important. What is important is to show we are better than them, especially at home. If that gives us more points than them, great. It’s just important psychologically to win the game.”
In the early years of Major League Soccer, the Crew had no more hated opponent than D.C. United, as Columbus lost conference finals to the Washington team from 1997-99. The clubs have not met in the playoffs since, and Chicago, which is the Crew’s closest geographical rival, has moved to the forefront with its recent success. Last season, Columbus defeated the Fire and ex-Crew-star Brian McBride to advance to its first MLS Cup.
“Maybe more now it’s Chicago based off last year,” Crew assistant Mike Lapper said. “D.C. didn’t make the playoffs and Chicago was the team we needed to beat to go the finals.” As a Crew player, Lapper was victimized in the playoffs by D.C. three times but finally was part of championship team last season as one of the team’s coaches. The way D.C. is playing this year is fantastic,” Lapper added. “They commit a lot of people forward. They attack like crazy. They are a very, very dangerous team and they knock the ball around well. It’s going to be a very good test the next two weeks.” The Crew play their main rivals in the next two matches, traveling to Chicago on July 11.