FULL TIME CLB 1 - 0 NYCFC
Columbus starts off the season with a win and a clean sheet against the 10-man NYCFC!
90'+4
It's back and forth action before Castellanos shoots towards Room. It's a poor effort and it rolls into the GK's arms.
90'+3
A close-range shot from Artur hits the side netting.
90'+2
Chris Cadden goes on a breakaway after an NYCFC attack but a last-ditch tackle saves the day.
90' Four minutes added on
There are 4 minutes added on.
89'
Wormgoor is back on the field.
88'
Wormgoor just fell really awkwardly on his knee after a collision with Castellanos. The Crew will be holding their breath that he is okay after last year's injuries.
87' Substitution
OFF: Lucas Zelarayan
ON: Chris Cadden
87'
Keaton Parks fires a shot just wide for the boys in blue.
86'
An NYCFC corner comes to nothing.
82'
A soft shot from Luis Diaz goes straight to the NYCFC GK.
81'
Point blank save from Sean Johnson on a Pedro Santos header.
80' Substitution
OFF: Gyasi Zardes
ON: Fanendo Adi
77' Yellow Card
Harrison Afful yanks down Maxi Moralez after the Argentinian turned the Columbus defender.
76'
Mitrita fires a free-kick straight into the Columbus wall.
73'
Luis Diaz with a horrible miss. Zelarayan finds the Costa Rican just outside the 6-yard box with no one near him but he whiffs his shot wide.
70'
NYCFC is starting to push further forward but it's come to nothing so far.
69' Substitution
ON: Valentin Castellanos
OFF: Heber
68'
Mitrita gets through down the left-hand side and forces a close save from Eloy Room.
66' Earlier substitution (62')
In the time that I had technical difficulties, Sebastien Ibeagha was subbed out for Keaton Parks. It looks like it was due to an injury.
64'
Columbus are all over NYCFC right now. Cross after cross are getting put into the New York box.
62'
After some technical difficulties, the ESPN+ stream is back. Columbus had a chance when it cut off but it looks as though it came to nothing. Still 1-0.
59' Substitution
ON: Luis Diaz
OFF: Youness Mokhtar
56'
After some great build-up play from Columbus in the final third. The ball fell to Harrison Afful, who finds Zelarayan with a through ball into the box. The Argentinian turned and shot the ball into the top corner of the far post.
56' GOAL
Zelarayan into the very top left corner!!
54'
The ensuing free kick goes out for a goal kick.
53' Yellow card
Artur gets a yellow for pulling back Mitrita on a breakaway
49'
An amazing tackle from Valenzuela leads to a quick transition from Columbus and a good save from Johnson. The resulting corner is poor.
47'
A short corner is taken by Columbus but no cross comes in and the ball goes out for an NYCFC throw-in.
46'
A quick start to the half with a Zelarayan cross going into the arms of Sean Johnson.
46'
The second half has begun!
Halftime Stats
CLB v NYCFC
Shots: 5-3
On target: 1-2
Possession: 59%-41%
Fouls: 6-5
Columbus will be the happier team with their play in the opening 45 minutes. NYCFC has their work cut out for them if they are to come out of this game with a win.
HALFTIME
Columbus 0 - 0 NYCFC
45'+5
The corner comes in but goes over everyone for a goal kick.
45'+4
Zelarayan with some nifty footwork before sending in a cross that leads to a corner.
45'+3
NYCFC push forward one last time before the break but it ends in a foul from the Pigeons near the goal-line.
45' 4 minutes added on
The half is winding down with 4 minutes of added time.
42'
A shot from NYCFC deflects and forces a good reaction save from Eloy Room.
39'
Moralez was in acres of space but Heber's ball was behind him and the potential opportunity disappeared.
39'
NYCFC is passing the ball well out of a very high press from Columbus
37'
A Pedro Santos diving header gets saved by Sean Johnson.
36'
Another cross from Columbus gets punched clear from Sean Johnson
33'
Possession stat: CLB 63% - 37% NYCFC
31' Yellow Card
Heber gets a yellow card for an elbow into Wormgoor's head when battling for a header. I missed a yellow card for Pedro Santos for arguing with the match official in the 20th minute.
30'
Mokhtar has a shot blocked from inside the 18-yard box.
29'
Mitrita gets the ball on the right side but mishits his shot. The ball slowly rolls into the arms of Eloy Room.
28'
Very good play on the edge of the box from Zelarayan leads to another Santos shot that *just* goes over the bar.
25'
Pedro Santos fires a shot just over the bar.
24'
Columbus are ramping up the pressure now. Multiple balls are being put into the box and NYCFC just cannot get out right now.
23'
Santos with some tricky play on the right side but his cross finds no one but the NYCFC GK.
20'
Columbus keeping possession in the attacking third. The attack ends with an offside call.
17'
NYCFC has coped well with the red card up to this point. They are still pushing forward and haven't looked vulnerable on defense.
16'
Mokhtar sends in a teasing cross that goes a little too close to the GK. Johnson saves easily.
14' Substitution
ON: Sebastien Ibeagha
OFF: Jesus Medina
13'
We resume play after the injury due to Wormgoor's challenge.
11'
NYCFC hasn't made a substitution yet. Instead, they have moved CDM James Sands to that CB position.
10' Yellow Card
Hard tackle from Wormgoor earns him a yellow card.
8'
Columbus is trying to establish some control on the ball but NYCFC is pressing well for the moment.
6'
After a long pause due to the red card and the VAR check, we finally resume play with the ensuing free kick.
3' RED CARD
NYCFC have CB Maxime Chanot sent off for tripping Lucas Zelarayan while he was the last defender.
2'
Good play down the left side from NYCFC but Matarrita can't quite find a pass into the box. The ball is eventually cleared.
1'
And we are live! Make sure to stick around for updates from me throughout the entirety of the match.
Today's benches
CLB: Tarbell, Cadden, Williams, Diaz, Berhalter, Etienne Jr., Adi
NYCFC: Stuver, Ibeagha, Zelalem, Parks, Tajouri-Shradi, Mackay-Stevens, Castellanos
Columbus Crew's Debutant's
All eyes will be on Columbus Crew's newest signings. Wormgoor, Nagbe, and Zelarayan will all be making their official first-team debuts today. Will they live up to expectation or crumble under the pressure?
How will NYCFC cope with CCL?
A running theme across MLS over the past several years is the slow start to the season for teams competing in the Concacaf Champions League. NYCFC played and beat San Carlos only 4 days ago. Ronny Deila has stuck with virtually the same exact roster (Heber in for Castellanos). Will we see tired legs late on for the boys in blue?
Kickoff weather conditions
Temperature: 43 F
Humidity: 41%
Wind: 12 mph South
Precipitation: 0%
Excitement is building in what seems to be a windy day in Columbus.
GAME DAY IS HERE!! #CREW96 #MLSisBack @ColumbusCrewSC #MLS @MAPFREStadium #Columbusohio pic.twitter.com/yBWsKLnGiS
— Dancing Kevin (@kschroeder1720) March 1, 2020
New York City FC Starting Lineup
Johnson; Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita, Sands, Ring, Moralez, Medina, Heber, Mitrita
Columbus Crew Starting Lineup
Room; Afful, Mensah, Wormgoor, Valenzuela, Nagbe, Artur, Santos, Zelarayan, Mokhtar, Zardes
Fixture History
In 11 regular-season meetings, the Columbus Crew has 3 wins and New York City FC have 4 with the other 4 games ending in a draw. New York City will want history to repeat itself here while Columbus will be looking to break the pattern of poor results against the Northasterners
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How to watch Columbus Crew vs New York City FC Live TV and Stream
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New York City FC: Last Lineup
Johnson; Tinnerholm, Chanot, Callens, Matarrita, Medina, Ring, Moralez, Sands, Mitrita, Castellanos
Columbus Crew: Last Lineup
Room; Afful, Williams, Mensah, Maloney, Artur, Trapp, Diaz, Santos, Mokhtar, Zardes
New York City FC: Team News
New York City FC will be without new signing Gudmundur Thórarinsson for the opening game of the season. Gudmundur is out with a lower-body injury. The fans will be gutted to not be able to see their new man.
Columbus Crew: Team News
The Columbus Crew are coming into their opening fixture of the season with a clean bill of health, something that all their fans will love to hear. One of the Crew's main issues last year was the multiple injuries they suffered to key players in their squad. With no injuries to report, the Crew will be expected to go full strength. Columbus fans will be hoping that the injury bug can stay away this year.
On the road again...
For the 6th time in a row, New York City FC will be starting their season away from Yankee Stadium. The team has fared quite well on their day 1 travels, going a strong 2-1-2 (W-L-D) in their season openers. The past experience of going on the road first and being successful should help the team in this scenario. Can they do it again?
The start of something special?
After a disappointing 2019 MLS campaign, the Columbus Crew has been ambitious in the winter transfer window after signing Lucas Zelarayan, Darlington Nagbe, and Vito Wormgoor, among other solid signings. The previously successful Caleb Porter will be looking to improve upon last year's 10th place finish with the much more talented squad he has at his disposal. Many pundits have high expectations for Columbus but can they live up to the hype?
Kick-off time
The Columbus Crew vs New York City FC match will be played at the MAPFRE, in Columbus, Ohio. The kick-off is scheduled at 12:30 pm ET.
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