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Crew-Union Preview

Aug 4, 2010 - 3:00 PM By ZAC POWELL STATS Writer

Columbus (10-4-4) at Philadelphia (4-8-3), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Despite a poor road record, the Columbus Crew still have a healthy lead as they sit atop the Eastern Conference. Coming up with better results when away from home should help increase that edge.

Following a loss to a last-place club, the Crew continue a three-game road trip Thursday night when they meet the expansion Philadelphia Union for the first time.

Columbus (10-4-4) dropped a 3-1 decision to Chivas USA on Saturday to kick off the trip, which ends Aug. 14 at Real Salt Lake. Steven Lenhart tallied his first MLS goal since May 1 in the 88th minute for the Crew, who have been outscored 6-3 while going 0-2-2 in their last four matches.

"Too little, too late," Lenhart, who had missed the previous two games with a broken nose, told the Crew's official website.

Columbus would like more production from Lenhart and Guillermo Barros Schelotto down the stretch. The Crew lead second-place New York by seven points in the East in spite of a 2-2-4 road record, and seven of their final 12 matches will take place on the road

"I think it will be good for us to play again so soon," Lenhart said. "We have to get sharper in training before we go to Philadelphia."

Schelotto is one of those players who needs to get sharper. Since serving a one-game suspension for a wild elbow on May 15, Schelotto has only one goal in his last 11 matches. Though struggling, he continues to lead Columbus with five goals and six assists.

However, the Crew may be without one of their steadiest players in Eddie Gaven. The midfielder's status is uncertain after he suffered a head injury 13 minutes into Saturday's loss following a collision with Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.

Gaven has three goals and leads the club in minutes played with 1,521.

Columbus has allowed the fewest goals (16) in the East this year, and will need to find a way to stop Philadelphia's Sebastien Le Toux. The midfielder scored his team-high eighth goal Saturday, but Philadelphia couldn't hold the lead and settled for a 1-1 draw with New England.

"We have been scoring first a good bit, but haven't been able to hold the lead," veteran forward Alejandro Moreno told the Union's official website. "We have to do a better job at that. We need three points and not one in these homes matches. ... This game Thursday against a very good Crew team is obviously huge."

Le Toux has scored in each of his last two games, and three of the last five for the Union (4-8-3). He and rookie Danny Mwanga - the top overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft - have combined for 13 of Philadelphia's 19 goals this year.

Philadelphia, which is 3-1-2 at home, is tied with New England for fifth in the East.