By The Numbers | Crew face NYCFC on Friday at Yankee Stadium

After a two-week break since the Concacaf Champions Cup Final, the Columbus Crew return to action Friday night when they face New York City FC.

Numbers to Know

7 – The Black & Gold sit seventh in the Eastern Conference, but that needs some context. First things first, Columbus has played the least number of games in the conference, including four fewer than first-place Inter Miami CF. Such is the life of a Crew side that made a deep run in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Friday night’s match marks the first time in 2024 that head coach Wilfried Nancy only needs to focus on one competition at a time. So, expect to see the Club’s strongest XI on a regular basis – especially in these next two road matches (More about that later). It’s also worth noting the Crew haven’t played at home in a month and will be playing a fourth-consecutive road game Friday night in The Bronx.

18 – Malte Amundsen is in the spotlight this week as he faces his former club. The Crew traded for the Danish defender in April 2023 after he joined NYCFC in 2021. To date, Amundsen’s made 14 league appearances and has been a substitute in the Club’s last four games across all competitions. His last start was the Crew’s last home match: May 11 against FC Cincinnati.

3 – NYCFC has had a surprise start to 2024, as the side sits third in the Eastern Conference at roughly the halfway point. With 29 points from 16 games, the Pigeons have rattled off five-straight wins, including a 5-1 drubbing of the San Jose Earthquakes in their last outing. Playing at Yankee Stadium has always been an advantage, so there’s no need to dive into the field dimensions. However, it should be stated this is the first of two massive games in one week. Once the Crew play third-place NYCFC, the reigning league champs visit Inter Miami next Wednesday.

10 – Twenty-four-year-old Santiago Rodríguez is the NYCFC player the Crew players and defenders should keep an eye on. The playmaker is well on his way to his best season with New York since he joined the side in 2021. Through 16 appearances in 2024, his six goals tie for the team lead, while his five assists pace the team. Both teams will have Uruguayan No. 10’s going to head-to-head. Vamos!

When They Last Met

Who could forget the last meeting on July 8, 2023, when the Sean Zawadzki’s 94th-minute equalizer sent Lower.com Field into a frenzy. This match was truly chaos. In the midst of adversity, the Crew found a way to earn something positive. There were plenty of high points last season, but this 1-1 draw got the ball rolling. As for the last match in New York, the clubs drew, 1-1, roughly a year ago on Jun. 17, 2023. Christian Ramirez provided Columbus with its lone goal in the 48th minute.

Match Overview

Who: Columbus Crew at New York City FC

When: Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Yankee Stadium

How to Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

How to Listen: La Grande 102.5 FM | Alt 105.7 FM | iHeart Radio app