Columbus Crew v Orlando City: Rydstrom optimistic after attitude change and ´good reactions´

Henrik Rydstrom has praised his Columbus Crew side for the change in attitude they displayed as they picked up their first win of the season over Atlanta United.

The Crew sealed a 3-1 victory over Atlanta in their last outing, with Wessam Abou Ali and Maximilian Arfsten getting on the scoresheet.

That victory snapped a five-match winless streak for Rydstrom’s side, who climbed up to 13th in the Eastern Conference.

Ahead of their clash against Orlando City on Sunday, Rydstrom reflected on his side’s progress in the three months since he was appointed head coach.

“The Atlanta win was a very big step forward,” Rydstrom said. “I think also there is sometimes this tendency that we had to maybe feel sorry for ourselves in some situations.

“You could have maybe felt that as a player when the opposition scores and it’s 2-1. But now, instead we just follow up with direct play, scoring another goal, and I think it’s good reactions. Not only when we score the goals, but also that we went for the next one.

“You could feel those kinds of things. It’s always a bit easy to say when you win the game, but there was something in the locker room. It was something I felt also maybe in my first two or three weeks here.

“Maybe because I feel more and more that for me as a coach, I can be more myself and honest. And maybe that sounds strange, but you always have to feel your way into a new environment and group.

“And I think when the players get to know me more and more and when I get to know them and we start to be ourselves and relax, there’s also something that releases – some energy or emotion and that was the feeling I got in the game.”

Orlando, on the other hand, are suffering from a dismal run of form ahead of their trip to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

They were handed a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Los Angeles FC in their latest outing, worsening matters for Martin Manuel Perelman’s side, who sit 14th in the East with just three points from their first six matches.

Now we want more #Crew96 | @OhioHealth pic.twitter.com/UN0YwC5BKj

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 11, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Wessam Abou Ali

Abou Ali has scored eight goals in 11 regular-season matches with Columbus, including scoring a brace against Atlanta last weekend.

He is the fifth player in Crew history to score eight times in his first 11 regular-season matches with the club, after Brian McBride, Stern John, Ola Kamara, and Cucho Hernandez.

Orlando City – Martin Ojeda

While there has not been much for Orlando fans to cheer this season, Martin Ojeda remains a constant threat for the Lions.

The Argentine scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists for Orlando last season and has followed that up strongly with two goals so far this term.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus come into Sunday’s clash as heavy favourites, despite having only just picked up their first win of the season.

But history tells a different story, with Orlando dominating the recent clashes. The Lions have lost three of their last 14 regular-season matches against the Crew (W9 D2), dating back to October 2018.

In fact, they have scored in all but one of those matches, including finding the net in all six visits to Columbus during that time.

Their recent form, however, is a different matter altogether. Orlando are the third team in MLS history to lose consecutive matches by a margin of five goals or more, joining the San Jose Earthquakes in 2020 and the New England Revolution in 2019.

The Lions have already lost three matches by five or more goals this season (against New York City FC, Nashville SC, and LAFC), equalling the most such losses in a full season in MLS history.

Columbus have also had their fair share of struggles, failing to find the net in each of their first two home matches this season.

This marks the first time the Crew have gone scoreless in two straight matches at home since April 2022. Across their total 566 outings at home, they have never gone three straight matches in all competitions without scoring.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 54.2%

Draw – 23.5%

Orlando City – 22.3%