Black Stars defender Harrison Afful is optimistic Columbus Crew will edge past DC United in the first round of playoffs in the Major League Soccer.
The two Eastern conference sides will square up tonight, 1 November 2018 at the Audi Park in Washington with the former Asante Kotoko defender beaming with confidence ahead of the game.
"You know in soccer, one man can make a change in the club," Afful said ahead of tonight's game.
"We’re not going to put this in our heads. It’s about teamwork and we believe in our group and believe in each other."
D.C United comes in with the second-best home record in MLS with a 13-2-2 record and 37 goals scored while conceding 17. Meanwhile, Crew SC boasted the League’s top road defence, statistically, for much of the season before ending the year with the fourth-fewest goals conceded on the road with 24.
The winner of the game between the Black and Gold and DC United would advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Harrison Afful has been one of the top performers for Crew this season and has been nominated for the MLS defender of the year after the regular season.
Read also:Â Player Profile: Harrison Afful
Together with compatriots Lalas Abubakar and Jonathan Mensah, the Black and Gold will come up against an attack led by former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.
Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, Crew SC has reached the playoffs four out of five seasons, reaching the 2015 MLS Cup as well as reaching the Eastern Conference Championship in 2017.
Columbus Crew finished fifth in the regular season.
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