New York City FC Quick Facts:
Regular Season Record: 7-11-6
Points: 27
Goal Differential: -3
Eastern Conference Rank: 8th
Total Shots: 304 (8th in MLS)
Last Five Matches: 2-3
Away Record: 3-6-2
Columbus Crew SC supporters will get their first up-close look at David Villa, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and company, when New York City FC visits MAPFRE Stadium on Wednesday night.
NYCFC makes its way to Columbus for the first of two meetings with the Black & Gold within 10 days. It will host Crew SC for the second clash at Yankee Stadium on August 29.
Coming off a 3-1 victory against Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United, NYCFC will look to keep the momentum going as it continues its push for the playoffs in its first year in Major League Soccer. The expansion team currently ranks eighth, one point behind sixth-place Montreal Impact and four behind Toronto FC. The two Canadian teams have three and one game in hand respectively, however.
In its playoff pursuit, NYCFC is relying on its experienced midfield that includes its newest additions, Pirlo and Lampard, who joined the team over the summer from Juventus Turin and Manchester City, as well as outside midfielders Tommy McNamara and Mix Diskerud.
Favoring a build-up through short passes, they don’t need much time to find the right opening and feed the ball to Villa. The former FC Barcelona striker leads NYCFC with 14 goals and 96 shots this season. That ranks him third League-wide behind Kei Kamara and Sebastian Giovinco in both categories.
New York City ranks eighth in both goals scored (34) and total shots (304). Its 117 shots on goal place NYCFC third just behind Crew SC (124). With 23 total assists, the team has the sixth-highest goal-to-assist differential among MLS clubs, underscoring NYCFC’s capability of scoring through individual skill.
Powered by that individual skill, New York’s high-pressure offense can keep any defense of its toes, but it can also leave its own backline exposed. NYCFC has only kept three clean sheets so far, which puts the team last in MLS.
Crew SC aims to keep it that way when New York City makes its first visit to MAPFRE Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET. Get your tickets here or follow the action on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, CD 102.5 or La Mega 103.1.
