By The Numbers | Crew host NYCFC in Leagues Cup Quarterfinal

Charlie Hatch

Following Tuesday night’s fantastic comeback win over Inter Miami CF, the Columbus Crew look to keep momentum rolling into Saturday night when the club hosts New York City FC in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal at Lower.com Field.

Numbers to Know

8 – The Crew are one of eight sides remaining in this year’s competition – and one of six MLS teams left. In the Round of 32, Columbus battered Sporting Kansas City, 4-0 last Friday night. Then on Tuesday, the reigning MLS Cup champs toppled the defending Leagues Cup champions, 3-2, by rattling off three unanswered goals in the second half. The Crew will host matches as long as they’re in the tournament, which is a massive opportunity. Through two games, we’ve seen new signings integrated into the team, while other players have earned minutes outside of league action. It’ll be interesting to see how head coach Wilfried Nancy coaches this must-win game against a known opponent.

10a – Go, Diego, go! Diego Rossi has scored four goals in the Crew’s first two Leagues Cup matches. He had a brace in the win over SKC and then again against Miami in the Round of 16. The Uruguayan has nine goals and five assists in his last nine appearances across all competitions. Make that six assists if you include his assist to Cucho Hernandez in the MLS All-Star Game. Rossi has been phenomenal this summer and is pulling the strings for the Black & Gold. Let’s hope that carries on this weekend.

5 – NYCFC is no lightweight. The Pigeons sit fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 38 points from 25 matches – a 1.52 points per game average. However, as for the club’s Leagues Cup campaign, it’s been slightly scattered in terms of consistent performances. The team’s group stage matches were a scoreless draw with Queretaro (NYCFC won on PKs) and a 4-2 loss at FC Cincinnati. Next came another draw – and another penalty kick shootout win – against the New England Revolution. But NYCFC won 2-1 in its last match over Tigres UANL, a club the Crew know well from Concacaf Champions Cup action. NYCFC is a much better team at home than on the road, and the Black & Gold are stout in the Ohio capital – both things that benefit Columbus.

10b – Santiago Rodriguez is one to watch for New York. Also a Uruguayan No. 10, Rodriguez has eight goals and eight assists in 24 league appearances this season. He had both a goal and an assist when these teams last met two months ago. As for his Leagues Cup contributions, he’s scored in three straight games. Don’t take him lightly.

When They Last Met

The Columbus Crew won, 3-2, in a dramatic win on June 14 at Yankee Stadium. Christian Ramirez, Mohamed Farsi and Cucho scored for the Black & Gold in a match that had 15 minutes of second-half stoppage time. Columbus and New York drew, 1-1, in the last meeting at Lower.com Field on July 8, 2023.