Columbus Crew attackers face high stakes ahead of LAFC trip
Cucho Hernandez leads a Columbus Crew attack that produced 11 goals and nine assists in their last four matches. The club faces roster instability as Monterrey discusses a potential US$8 million transfer for Diego Rossi while the team fights for a playoff spot.
Frontline production remains high
Cucho Hernandez leads a Columbus Crew attack that produced 11 goals and nine assists in their last four matches. Hernandez averaged 2.1 goals or assists per 90 minutes after recording seven goals and five assists in 510 minutes. Christian Ramirez added four goals and an assist in 446 minutes. Diego Rossi contributed three goals and five assists in 515 minutes. This offensive production follows a period where Hernandez scored four goals in three road matches against Montreal, Chicago, and Orlando City. The Crew’s offensive output remains high because Hernandez, Rossi, and Ramirez combined for eleven goals and nine assists in their last four matches, proving the fluid system Nancy uses to exploit defensive vulnerabilities. The Crew secured eight victories in their last nine games, a feat the club achieved only once before since its 1996 debut. In their last four wins, the team outscored opponents by a 14-goal margin, scoring 15 and allowing just one. This scoring margin is the highest in team history and the third best in MLS history. Ten of the last 15 goals occurred at home at Lower.com Field, while the remaining five came during a 5-1 away win at Gillette Stadium.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Minutes | G/A per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cucho Hernandez | 7 | 5 | 510 | 2.1 |
| Diego Rossi | 3 | 5 | 515 | 1.2 |
| Christian Ramirez | 4 | 1 | 446 | 1.0 |
Rossi departure threatens roster stability
Columbus faces a roster decision regarding Diego Rossi as Monterrey reportedly discusses a transfer. Rossi produced six goals and two assists in 15 MLS matches this season. The club could receive a US$8 million return for the Uruguayan. Losing Rossi would create a gap in the attack, especially since Wessam Abou Ali expects to miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. You should watch how Wilfried Nancy manages the roster if Rossi leaves for Monterrey. The Crew sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points outside the playoff places, leaving little room for a prolonged transition if Rossi departs. Rossi scored 51 goals in all competitions since joining the Crew in 2023. His most productive month lately came in May, which coincided with Hernandez being sidelined after a loss to FC Cincinnati. Before joining Columbus, Rossi tallied 49 goals and 23 assists in 107 games for LAFC and became the youngest player to win the MLS Golden Boot with that club in 2020. Rossi had a slow start to the league campaign, recording only one assist from open play and remaining goalless until mid-May. The club previously decided to move on from Lucas Zelarayan to sign Rossi on a DP contract. If both Rossi and Abou Ali exit the lineup, Columbus loses two attacking options while opening two designated-player slots.
Scoring race rules and tiebreakers
The MLS Golden Boot competition relies on assists as the first official tiebreaker after goals. The league uses minutes played as the second tiebreaker if players match in scoring. Lionel Messi set a high standard in 2025 with 29 goals and 19 assists. The chase pack includes Son Heung Min, Sam Surridge, Denis Bouanga, and Evander. Does the current tiebreaker system favor the creative players enough to prevent a pure hunter from taking the trophy? In 2025, Sam Surridge finished as one of the closest chasers behind Messi with 24 goals. Denis Bouanga also recorded 24 goals in 2025. Hugo Cuypers scored 19 goals in 2025, while Dejan Joveljic tallied 18 goals. Other contenders include Kevin Denkey, who scored 15 goals in 2025, Anders Dreyer, who recorded 19 goals and 19 assists in 2025, and Musa, who scored 19 goals in 2025.
