Fresh off recording the first clean sheet of the season, New York City FC hits the road to take on the Columbus Crew Saturday at 7:30 p.m (YES, WFAN, WADO)
It is the first of back-to-back road games with five of the next seven games away from Yankee Stadium for NYCFC, whose lone win this year was 4-3 at Chicago on March 6.
Since that shootout, NYCFC has tightened things up defensively, conceding just two goals in the last three games. However, goals have been at a premium during the same stretch with just one – a Tommy McNamara rebound – goal despite being among the MLS leaders in touches and possession.
“I think we have players who can score goals, but it’s just about them keep working and there’s a little bit of luck we need as well on our side,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “At the moment it’s not there.”
Through five games, NYCFC has five points and sit just three points behind Eastern Conference leaders Montreal and Philadelphia.
Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Meanwhile, a year removed from a trip to the MLS Cup, the Columbus Crew have just two points from five matches and is the only team left in the league without a victory.
“I’m not going to be naïve to think their record reflects the type of team they are,” NYCFC defender Jason Hernandez said. “We know they’re a very dangerous team and a very good team and chomping at the bit at home. The onus will be on us to be strong and solid for the entire 90 minutes because they have guys who in just a split second can hurt you.”
One of those guys is Kei Kamara, a former teammate of Hernandez at San Jose. A year ago, the Sierra Leone center forward had 22 goals, but has found the back of the net just once despite 16 shots, including five on frame this year.
Vieira, though, is wary of just focusing on Kamara.
“It’s not just Kamara. I think [Federico] Higuain is a terrific player because if you give him space and time on the ball he can make the pass, create something that only he can do,” Vieira said. “They’re a really good team, really good players and I really like the way they try to play football.”
A year ago, the teams met twice in a 10-day span. Kwadwo Poku struck twice in a 2-2 draw at Mapfre Stadium, while the Crew pulled out a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium.
RELATED: ALL GOALS SCORED VS COLUMBUS CREW
Broadcast: YES | WFAN | WADO | International
