NYCFC is on the move to Columbus and this is the latest.
Eloi Amagat and Ebenezer Ofori are not available for selection vs. Crew SC due to the red card suspensions resulting from the Hudson River Derby.
Ronald Matarrita returns from his red card suspension that saw him miss out on the fun at Yankee Stadium and will look to get back on track in Ohio.
On the injury front, Alex Callens has been upgraded to Questionable after getting some paces in on the training pitch this week, whilst Herrera, Hountondji, Berget, and Medina continue to progress but remain listed as Out.
Taty Castellanos is back ready for selection after looking healthy in training. Roll on Saturday..
NEW YORK CITY FC
QUESTIONABLE: D - Alex Callens (Knee)
OUT: F - Jo Inge Berget (Adductor)
OUT: M - Yangel Herrera (Ankle)
OUT: D - Cedric Hountondji (Hamstring)
OUT: M - Jesus Medina (Hamstring)
COLUMBUS CREW SC
OUT: M - Eduardo Sosa (right knee meniscectomy 8/7, out 4-6 weeks) - READ
OPTA STATS
After going undefeated in their first three games against New York (2W-1D), Columbus has not won in their last five meeting with the Cityzens (3L-2D). NYC’s clean sheet in their matchup in July was the first in the fixture’s MLS history.
Columbus have lost only twice at home this season (8W-3D) – only five teams have fewer. They are averaging 1.9 goals a game at home, being held scoreless just once.
New York has won just one of its last five (2D-2L) after winning four in a row prior. During their winning streak, they didn’t concede once – they’ve allowed ten in the last five.
Columbus Crew SC’s shot conversion rate of 9.0% is the lowest in the league this season. They are the only MLS team with a conversion rate under 10%.
New York City drew last time out 1-1 with the Red Bulls, in spite of having two players dismissed. In doing so, they became the fifth team since the start of the 2015 season gain a point in a match in which they received two red cards.
City’s two red cards in their draw with the Red Bulls last weekend were their third and fourth of the season. They only had one red card last year.
Gyasi Zardes has scored 13 of his 15 goals this year at home. Among the top five goalscorers in MLS, nobody has a higher percentage of goals scored in their clubs stadium (86.7%).
NYCFC have scored seven goals from outside the box this season, tied for the most in MLS. Columbus conceded six goals from outside the box – only four teams have allowed more.
Niko Hansen’s late equalizer against the Chicago Fire was his second goal in 29 MLS appearances, and his first since he scored on his league debut against Portland in March 2017.
Jo Inge Berget had one combined goal and assist in his first 12 NYCFC appearances, but he has six in his last eight MLS games.
