COLUMBUS — The Columbus Crew have little time to recover from one of their most disappointing losses of the season. Just three days after falling to St. Louis CITY SC in the U.S. Open Cup Final, the Black & Gold return to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Saturday to host Toronto FC in a match with major playoff implications.

Columbus (10-15-5, 35 points) enters the weekend in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind 10th-place Toronto (8-10-12, 36 points). Both clubs are fighting to climb into the top nine and qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, making Saturday's meeting especially important with only four regular-season matches remaining.

The Crew were riding a wave of momentum following last Sunday's 2-0 victory over rival FC Cincinnati. Goals from Gonzalo Tapia and Taha Habroune helped Columbus earn a crucial road win and keep its postseason hopes alive.

That momentum took a hit Wednesday when Columbus lost the U.S. Open Cup Final to St. Louis. The Crew controlled much of the match but couldn't find a breakthrough, eventually falling 5-3 in a penalty shootout after 120 scoreless minutes.

The defeat was disappointing enough on its own, but the physical toll could be just as concerning. Columbus played an intense rivalry match Sunday, followed by two hours of soccer Wednesday, and now must prepare for another important contest with only two days of recovery.

Interim head coach Laurent Courtois will have some difficult decisions to make regarding his lineup. Several regular starters played heavy minutes Wednesday, and keeping the squad fresh without sacrificing quality will be important against Toronto.

Offensively, Brais Méndez and Habroune have become important pieces in the Crew's recent improvement. Méndez has provided creativity and scoring, while Habroune has scored in three consecutive MLS matches. Columbus will need both players involved if it hopes to break down Toronto's defense.

The visitors present an opportunity for the Crew to find some offense. Toronto has allowed 55 goals in 30 league matches, an average of 1.83 per contest, and has struggled defensively throughout the season.

However, Toronto has dangerous attacking options of its own. Dániel Sallói and Josh Sargent are among the club's leading scorers, while former Crew midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr. provides another threat going forward.

Toronto also enters Saturday with momentum, having won its last two league matches, including a 2-0 road victory over the New York Red Bulls last weekend. The visitors have also had a full week to prepare, while Columbus spent Wednesday battling St. Louis for the Open Cup title.

The Crew lost the first meeting between these clubs, 2-1, in Toronto on March 21. Saturday offers an opportunity to return the favor while moving ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.

A Columbus victory would move the Crew to 38 points, ahead of both Toronto and the Red Bulls, who enter the weekend tied at 36 points. However, results elsewhere in the Eastern Conference will also affect the playoff picture.

With the playoff race this tight, Columbus can hardly afford to drop points at home. The Crew have played some of their best soccer of the season over the past several weeks, but Wednesday's disappointment creates another test of their ability to respond.

Match Information

Prediction

The Crew have been playing better soccer lately, but their demanding schedule is a legitimate concern. Toronto should have fresher legs, although Columbus has the home-field advantage and has shown an ability to produce important goals when needed. Expect a competitive match, with the Crew doing enough to earn three valuable points on a goal late.

Columbus Crew 2, Toronto FC 1