Jacen Russell-Rowe seals win in New England as Crew prepare for LAFC test | OneFootball

Columbus traveled to Massachusetts on a frigid Saturday night and managed to leave with all three points. It wasn’t easy, New England pushed hard for an equalizer after Jacen Russell-Rowe’s goal early in the second half, even earning a late penalty. But the call was rightfully overturned, as the ensuing free kick didn’t strike the arm of Dylan Chambost but instead shot at his pits. The Crew saw out the win by diligent defending, as opposed to the horror show of a first 20 against Chicago. Now eyes are set on Tuesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup first-leg clash against a familiar foe, Los Angeles FC.

Breakout season?

Russell-Rowe’s finish was exactly what Wilfried Nancy needed from his No. 9—clinical and instinctive, no need for flair. A simple touch, then a composed strike into the net. That kind of poise in front of goal has been brewing for a while. Last season, ‘JRR’ hit a career-high five MLS goals (eight in all competitions) despite playing a backup role behind Cucho Hernández and Christian Ramirez. But when he got his chances, he made them count, scoring in both legs of the Champions Cup semifinal win over Monterrey and in the Leagues Cup final victory over LAFC.

Now leading the line, Russell-Rowe already has two goals in two matches, despite being managed carefully due to cramping. He’s proving that the step up hasn’t fazed him, scoring the opener in both of the Crew’s first two matches of the 2025 season. On opening weekend, he started things off in a 4-2 win over Chicago Fire. On Saturday night, he bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution, finishing off a counterattack after being set up by former Crew 2 teammate Mo Farsi. One touch into the box, then a confident strike with his weaker left foot. Business as usual.

Russell-Rowe’s start to 2025 suggests he could be in for a breakout season. His goal-scoring instincts were undeniable at the MLS Next Pro level, where he dominated with Crew 2 in 2022. The Torontonian scored 21 goals in 19 matches that year, winning the Golden Boot, Next Pro MVP, and helping the Capybaras to the league’s first-ever title. That kind of finishing doesn’t just disappear, it was always a matter of time before it translated to the senior level. Now, he’s showing it in MLS, and if he keeps up this form, it won’t just be Nancy watching closely.

Canada’s striker pool is only getting stronger, but if JRR continues to deliver, he’ll force his way into the conversation for a World Cup spot. He’s got the technical quality, the movement, and now, the stage to prove himself. With Columbus competing on multiple fronts this season, there will be plenty of big moments to make his case. And if history is anything to go by, he thrives when it matters most.

Trip to BMO Stadium

Up next for the Crew is a trip to BMO Stadium, where LAFC awaits in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.

With Columbus rolling out the same lineup in back-to-back matches to start the season (just as I predicted) it wouldn’t be a surprise to see some rotation on Tuesday. JRR, who has been dealing with cramping, may not start as a precaution, giving Wilfried Nancy the chance to tweak his attack while keeping players fresh for the second leg. However, a full rotation isn’t realistic. Columbus is already dealing with a thin bench, and several players are unavailable, including Rudy Camacho and Lassi Lappalainen.

That limits Nancy’s ability to make wholesale changes, meaning only a few players will get the chance to impress. It’s a tricky balance, keeping key players fresh while ensuring the team remains competitive against an LAFC side that, despite its early struggles, knows how to grind out results.

LAFC has also started the MLS season with a perfect record, though not in the most convincing fashion. They’ve won both league matches 1-0, grinding out results against Minnesota and NYCFC. Their Champions Cup journey has followed a similar pattern. After trailing 2-1 in Denver against the Colorado Rapids, they clawed back to win the home leg 1-0, advancing on away goals. If nothing else, they’ve been resilient, but all three of their home games this season have ended in the same narrow scoreline.

Columbus Crew v LAFC - Final: Leagues Cup 2024 | Jason Mowry/GettyImages

That kind of cautious approach may not work against Columbus. The Crew has been a thorn in LAFC’s side, beating them twice last year—including in the Leagues Cup final, and at their ground 5-1 (!!!) prior to that. However this time, the real Black & Gold will be looking to break LA’s 1-0 streak by taking something even more valuable back to Columbus: road goals.

With both sides likely to rotate a bit, this should be an evenly matched battle. My prediction? A 1-1 draw. The Crew will keep themselves in a strong position heading back to Lower.com Field, where they’ll look to finish the job.