Picture Credits: Columbus Crew Twitter (Eloy Room)
Friday night will be the final time that these two teams meet in the MLS Regular Season. It will also be the first time the Crew have played at the MLB's New York Yankees Yankee Stadium in about two years. Columbus has won the previous two meetings this season, both by the score of 2-1. Lucas Zelerayan starred in both of those games, scoring three of the four total goals Columbus has scored against NYCFC.
How To Watch
TV: Bally Sports Columbus
Radio: 97.1 The Fan
Injury Report
Out: Artur (R Hip), Aidan Morris (L Knee), Milton Valenzuela (R Thigh), Vito Wormgoor (R Thigh), Liam Fraser (International Duty), Gyasi Zardes (International Duty)
Questionable: Josh Williams (L Ankle)
The Crew do get back Luis Diaz from international duty at the Gold Cup with Costa Rica. The Crew are only missing two more players due to international duty, and could have them back for midweek against DC United next week if both Canada and the U.S. lose tonight.
Projected Starting XI
Picture Credits: Devin Weisbarth via Lineup11
Keys To The Match
Eloy Room Keeps Up His Sensational Form
Eloy Room has spearheaded the Crew to six games unbeaten with world class goalkeeping. He has single-handily kept and won the Crew games this season. With the Crew slowly returning to full health and getting players back from international duty, the pressure on Room to make so many saves will dwindle.
Lucas Zelerayan Continues His Form Against NYCFC
Lucas Zelerayan has dominated NYCFC this season. In their first meeting, Lucas scored two free kick goals, with the second goal proving to be the game winner. In their last meeting at Lower.com Field, Zelerayan scored the second goal of the match, which also proved to be the game winner in that match. Zelerayan will be tasked with creating much of the offense in this game.
Goals Needed From The Wingers
The wingers have not been on the front foot when it comes to scoring goals this season. Even though that they have been good at tracking back when needed and defending when needed, but goal scoring is something that Caleb Porter has been crying out for. If the wingers can start to get on the scoresheet, the Crew will continue to get results.
Prediction
If I was to follow the trajectory of this matchup, I would go with a 2-1 Crew victory. But with the pitch, and it being a "baseball" field, I do predict that this match will end in a 1-1 draw.