Game Day Hub: NYCFC host Columbus at Yankee Soccer Stadium

It’s Matchday Ten: New York City FC will play Columbus Crew in the Bronx tonight at 7 pm ET.

The two clubs are old frenemies that have met 19 times in league and postseason play —Columbus are one of just eight teams with a winning record against NYCFC. The Crew have eight wins to New York City’s seven, and Columbus gained that edge on NYCFC last year: NYCFC beat Columbus 4-1 on July 1, but then Columbus defeated NYCFC 2-1 on July 17, then again by the score of 2-1 on May 22 at Red Bull Arena. A win today for NYCFC will even the record.

NYCFC are riding a five-game undefeated streak in all competitive games in which they have scored 17 goals and allowed just five, registering three clean sheets. For their part, Columbus are coming off of a 2-2 draw at New England after notching a 3-0 win over DC United at home.

Match: NYCFC host Columbus Crew

Date and Time: Saturday, May 13, 7 pm ET

Venue: Yankee Stadium

Forecast: Overcast, humid, chance of showers, 61˚F/16˚C

Watch: ESPN+

Stream: YES App

Listen: The game will be broadcast in both English and Spanish on NYCFC Radio

• Injury report: Defender Anton Tinnerholm is out with the Achilles injury he suffered last October. Malte Amundsen is questionable after suffering a muscle injury two weeks ago against San Jose, and Maxi Moralez is questionable after the midweek US Open Cup win over Rochester NY FC — please, no more games on plastic grass for Maxi?

• Taty Casteallons was back in training with the Senior Team this week, and is cleared to play.

• Last week’s scoreless game with Sporting Kansas City was Sean Johnson’s fourth clean sheet of the season — he had nine clean sheets in all of 2021 league play.

• Columbus have been held scoreless four times this season: They were blanked by Nashville FC, Philadelphia Union, Orlando City SC, and Sporting Kansas City.

• Attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayán is the straw that stirs the Crew’s drink, and a recurring nightmare for NYCFC. He scored both goals in that 1-2 loss to Columbus at Red Bull Arena, the first in the 82nd minute, and the second in the 95th minute. You can read about him in our scouting report here.

• The Crew aren't good at finishing chances. While the team has a respectable 15 goals in 10 games, nine of those were scored in the first three matches — Columbus has just six goals in their last seven games.

• Columbus doesn't give up many goals. The defense have allowed just 11 goals this season.

• The Crew had a tough time getting here. According to a tweet posted Patrick Murphy of Massive Report last night, their flight was turned away last night because of fog — Columbus is expected to fly in today.

• The oddsmakers overwhelmingly pick NYCFC to win. As of the publication of this article, Taty Castellanos is tapped as the most likely to score, followed by Thiago, Héber, Santiago Rodríguez, Talles Magno, and Maxi Moralez.

The comment section below is for everybody in the Hudson River Blue community to use for the game thread. Not a member? It’s free: Sign up here.