Massive Predictions: Crew vs. New York City FC

It’s a Friday night of soccer at Yankee Stadium as the Columbus Crew takes on New York City FC to end the team’s July schedule. The game presents a chance for the Black & Gold to extend their unbeaten run to seven straight games while NYCFC tries to stay undefeated at its baseball home. The Crew sits just one point above New York City in the Eastern Conference near the mid-point of the 2021 MLS season.

Here is what the Massive Report staff thinks will happen in Friday’s big match.

Thomas Costello

It feels like any time the Crew play NYCFC at the baseball field, it turns into odd results. There’s definitely a tactical advantage to New York City, having played on the field more frequently, but I think Columbus overcomes the advantage.

Center backs Jonathan Mensah and Aboubacar Keita will have a strong match defensively and the return of winger Luis Diaz will turn into his second Crew goal of the regular season. Kevin Molino will add his first goal in black and gold and Columbus wins.
Columbus Crew 2 New York City FC 1

Adam Miller

The Black & Gold travel to the Big Apple to take on NYCFC for the third time this year. There has been little to separate these sides except for Lucas Zelarayan free kicks so far and this match will be no exception. Due to the quality of the opponent and the limitations for squad selection, in addition to the problems that playing in a shoebox provide, look for the Crew to take a similar approach to the team’s recent match against Atlanta United.

Columbus will defend in a relatively low and compact defensive block before looking to spring out on the counter early on. As the Crew grows into the game, the team will have more success maintaining possession and controlling the game. Luis Diaz will score early in transition and Lucas Zelarayan will seal it late.
Columbus Crew 2 New York City FC 0

Abigail Hintz

Caleb Porter and his squad know how huge two wins in a row would be for them at this halfway point of the season, but two wins on the road would be a huge confidence boost. It’s an advantage and a disadvantage that these two teams have met twice already. They know each other well and will need to make tweaks to best combat the other.

The Crew looks to score some goals in the run of play, something the team has only done once against NYCFC this season, but I believe Columbus is in a good space to do so with nearly their entire offense back in the lineup. I think we’re going to see the same scoreline, but some different scorers for the Black & Gold.
Columbus Crew 2 New York City FC 1

Collin Johnson

Starting the middle third of the season, the Crew find itself rounding into form and getting somewhat closer to full strength. A second road win on the season, after a championship season without a true road win, sends Columbus to Yankee Stadium with the belief that the team can grind out results. NYCFC will see the team’s third match against the Black & Gold as an opportunity to get revenge on a side that’s beaten them twice already this year.

Coming off the back of a second 5-0 home win, NYCFC won’t lack confidence heading into the match. Winger Kevin Molino is my man to watch in this match. His game against Atlanta United was his best for the Crew and in New York City is where he’ll get his first goal in black and gold. That said, it’s hard to see a second straight road win against a team that Columbus has been lucky to beat after being outperformed twice on the season.
Columbus Crew 1 New York City FC 1

Orri Benatar

Lightning will strike a third time for Columbus against NYCFC. The Crew is riding a wave of picking up points and the roster is getting stronger both in health and in performance. Lucas Zelarayan has been a thorn in New York City’s side and I think he will be again in a game where technical players that keep possession well can affect the match more on this narrow pitch.
Columbus Crew 2 New York City FC 1

Patrick Murphy

Caleb Porter admitted this week that the Crew was lucky to get two wins in two games against New York City FC already this year. Lucas Zelarayan was the hero in both games with three free kick goals out of four scored. But Columbus was outplayed by NYCFC both times.

This game will be tricky as City looks to get a win in the final game between these two games of the regular season. This is the first of those three meetings at Yankee Stadium, which should give the home side an advantage. It’s a big game between two teams that are very close in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus Crew 1 New York City FC 1

There you have it, the predictions from the Massive Report staff. How do you see the Black & Gold’s game against NYCFC going? Let us know in the comment section below.