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Recent Columbus Crew signing Wessam Abou Ali is determined to repay the fans after receiving a warm welcome at his new club.
Abou Ali joined Wilfried Nancy’s side from Egyptian giants Al Ahly and made his Columbus debut as a substitute in their defeat against the New England Revolution.
The 26-year-old played in 35 Egyptian Premier League matches over the last two seasons, scoring 28 goals and registering seven assists in that time.
The striker also scored a hat-trick in a 4-4 draw against Porto at the Club World Cup, where Al Ahly finished bottom of Group A on two points.
With a huge Eastern Conference clash against the New York Red Bulls up next for Columbus, Abou Ali is eager to live up to his expectations.
“It feels amazing,” Abou Ali said after his debut. “That’s why I came to get going, to start playing, to get to know my team-mates.
“It’s been a quick, quick week, but I’m happy and I’m proud to make my debut. Obviously, it’s a nice feeling, and a warm welcome from the fans.
“It was actually very amazing. I’m so grateful for the people that were here supporting the team.
“I had a very good welcome in the warm-up and every time I went to warm up as well on the other side during the game. I heard the roar when I came on as well. It’s a big thing for me. Of course, I’m representing myself, my family, a whole nation.
“So, it gives you a reason to give something back to these people and really work hard to make them happy and live up to those expectations.”
It’s Abou Ali O’Clock
Wessam Abou Ali made his Black & Gold debut on Saturday night when he subbed into the match in the 57th minute. Congratulations, Wes! pic.twitter.com/RW3YqYwfQu
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) August 26, 2025
The Red Bulls fell to a 1-0 defeat against Charlotte FC in their last match, despite accumulating 1.69 expected goals (xG) to their opponents’ 0.5.
That result left them ninth in the East, six points and two places behind Columbus.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Red Bulls – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Choupo-Moting leads his Red Bulls team-mates for goals this season, finding the net 15 times so far in MLS.
He (13 goals, three assists) and Emil Forsberg (eight goals, seven assists) each have 15+ goal contributions at home this season.
Just four other MLS players have 15+ home goal contributions in 2025, with Choupo-Moting and Forsberg being the only pair of team-mates.
Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi
Rossi is enjoying his best goalscoring campaign for the Crew, netting 13 times in 26 MLS matches.
The Uruguayan has either scored or assisted in four of his last six games in all competitions, directly contributing to five goals in that time (four goals, one assist).
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
The Red Bulls are tied for both the most home goals (34) and fewest away goals of any team (eight) in MLS this season. Their 80.1% of goals scored at home would be the largest such percentage by an MLS team in a season since the Red Bulls themselves in 2009 (88.9%).
Despite being winless in their last three regular-season matches (D1 L2), Columbus are one of four teams this season that have not lost consecutive matches, along with FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami and Minnesota United. The Crew have not lost back-to-back regular-season matches since May 2023.
Columbus, meanwhile, have won three straight regular-season games against NYRB and four of the last five head-to-head meetings.
The Red Bulls did knock the Crew out of last season’s MLS Cup Playoffs, however, with a 1-0 road win and a shoot-out victory following a 2-2 home draw.
Columbus have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six matches. NYRB, meanwhile, have won three and lost three of their previous six.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York Red Bulls – 34.4%
Draw – 25.8%
Columbus Crew – 39.7%
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