Predicted XI: Monterrey

This it. The second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal on Wednesday night.

The Columbus Crew takes a 2-1 lead from the first leg to Nuevo Leon to take on Monterrey as both teams look to advance to the final. The Crew simply needs a result to make it to its first international championship match.

Defender Mohamed Farsi joins goalkeeper Evan Bush on the injury report with an ankle injury. Farsi was carried off the field on a stretcher against CF Montreal in the previous game and while his injury is less serious than expected, head coach Wilfried Nancy ruled him out for Wednesday.

Here is how we expect the Black & Gold to line up:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has dealt with the adversity and pressure of big matches well, rising to the occasions in his young career. This is another stage for Schulte to show his big-game capability and give all the scouts of teams abroad and the United States Men’s National Team a chance to see him perform in an important international match. 

Defenders Rudy Camacho, Yevhen Cheberko and Steven Moreira will man the backline. Camacho and Moreira did not start over the weekend against Montreal as Columbus deployed a rotated squad to manage heavy legs in favor of pursuing Champions Cup glory. Cheberko has grown leaps and bounds this season and is up for this match. 

The injury to Farsi is a blow, but Sean Zawadzki has proven capable as a wing back. Zawadzki is the putty to patch any cracks the Crew may have and he has been more than just a stop gap, showing a firm grasp of wherever he is needed on the field as well as being the most dangerous yellow shirt on corner kicks. Zawadzki has one goal and two flick-on assists on corner kicks this season. Yaw Yeboah will start as the left wing back. 

Midfielders Aidan Morris and captain Darlington Nagbe will start in this match. While Nagbe rested on Saturday, Morris was honored as the captain for the Black & Gold. Nagbe will be a much-needed presence and will be pivotal for Columbus in this match. 

Forwards Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi are locks to start in this match but the third attacking spot is up for grabs. Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe has seen the most minutes as a running mate for the two Designated Players, even notching the game-winning goal against Monterrey in the previous leg. However, this is an away match in hostile territory and Nancy will look to a more veteran presence in forward Christian Ramirez. Both attackers saw playtime against Montreal, with Ramirez making his first appearance since his injury against Charlotte FC.