Current Columbus Crew signing Wessam Abou Ali is decided to repay the followers after receiving a heat welcome at his new membership.
Abou Ali joined Wilfried Nancy’s facet from Egyptian giants Al Ahly and made his Columbus debut in its place of their defeat in opposition to the New England Revolution.
The 26-year-old performed in 35 Egyptian Premier League matches during the last two seasons, scoring 28 targets and registering seven assists in that point.
The striker additionally scored a hat-trick in a 4-4 draw in opposition to Porto on the Membership World Cup, the place Al Ahly completed backside of Group A on two factors.
With an enormous Jap Convention conflict in opposition to the New York Crimson Bulls up subsequent for Columbus, Abou Ali is keen to reside as much as his expectations.
“It feels wonderful,” Abou Ali stated after his debut. “That’s why I got here to get going, to start out enjoying, to get to know my team-mates.
“It’s been a fast, fast week, however I’m pleased and I’m proud to make my debut. Clearly, it’s a pleasant feeling, and a heat welcome from the followers.
“It was truly very wonderful. I’m so grateful for the those who had been right here supporting the workforce.
“I had an excellent welcome within the warm-up and each time I went to heat up as effectively on the opposite facet through the sport. I heard the roar once I got here on as effectively. It’s an enormous factor for me. After all, I’m representing myself, my household, a complete nation.
“So, it provides you a cause to provide one thing again to those folks and actually work onerous to make them pleased and reside as much as these expectations.”
It’s Abou Ali O’Clock
Wessam Abou Ali made his Black & Gold debut on Saturday night time when he subbed into the match within the 57th minute. Congratulations, Wes! pic.twitter.com/RW3YqYwfQu
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 26, 2025
The Crimson Bulls fell to a 1-0 defeat in opposition to Charlotte FC of their final match, regardless of accumulating 1.69 anticipated targets (xG) to their opponents’ 0.5.
That consequence left them ninth within the East, six factors and two locations behind Columbus.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Crimson Bulls – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Choupo-Moting leads his Crimson Bulls team-mates for targets this season, discovering the online 15 instances to date in MLS.
He (13 targets, three assists) and Emil Forsberg (eight targets, seven assists) every have 15+ aim contributions at residence this season.
Simply 4 different MLS gamers have 15+ residence aim contributions in 2025, with Choupo-Moting and Forsberg being the one pair of team-mates.
Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi
Rossi is having fun with his greatest goalscoring marketing campaign for the Crew, netting 13 instances in 26 MLS matches.
The Uruguayan has both scored or assisted in 4 of his final six video games in all competitions, instantly contributing to 5 targets in that point (4 targets, one help).
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
The Crimson Bulls are tied for each essentially the most residence targets (34) and fewest away targets of any workforce (eight) in MLS this season. Their 80.1% of targets scored at residence could be the biggest such proportion by an MLS workforce in a season because the Crimson Bulls themselves in 2009 (88.9%).
Regardless of being winless of their final three regular-season matches (D1 L2), Columbus are considered one of 4 groups this season that haven’t misplaced consecutive matches, together with FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami and Minnesota United. The Crew haven’t misplaced back-to-back regular-season matches since Could 2023.
Columbus, in the meantime, have received three straight regular-season video games in opposition to NYRB and 4 of the final 5 head-to-head conferences.
The Crimson Bulls did knock the Crew out of final season’s MLS Cup Playoffs, nevertheless, with a 1-0 street win and a shoot-out victory following a 2-2 residence draw.
Columbus have received two, drawn one and misplaced three of their final six matches. NYRB, in the meantime, have received three and misplaced three of their earlier six.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York Crimson Bulls – 34.4%
Draw – 25.8%
Columbus Crew – 39.7%
