Two MLS heavyweights, New York City and Columbus Crew, faced off at Yankee Stadium to extend their respective winning streaks. Columbus was on a three-win streak, while NYC was on five. In the end, the current MLS champions and Concacaf Champions Cup finalists took three points in a crazy match that was delayed more than an hour and full of controversies.

Goalscorers:

New York City FC: Ojeda 44′, Rodríguez 86′

San Jose Earthquakes: Ramirez 48′, Farsi 53′, Hernández 65′ PK

True, neither team was as reliable as their winning streak may suggest. Columbus won games with a straightforward plan: clinical finishing and not conceding many chances. But their overall game was plain at moments. Their loss against Pachuca in CCC’s final was the best example. NYC was not different; they fought back and resisted many endurances in their matches, enough to take three points each time. So it was going to be interesting to see how they played.
The first 25 minutes or so were all Columbus. They controlled the game with pressure and established the pace as the match was played. Both teams were playing only within 20/25 meters of the pitch and were very direct. Many long balls from both teams ended with two very different results. Ojeda was the only threat to Columbus’s back line. He attacked the space, but it rarely happened, and it was ineffective the few times it happened, as Cheberks and Farsis did an excellent job of controlling that area. On the other side of the pitch was more action.

Throughout the season, Risa has been the very aggressive center-back, sometimes leaving his place to follow a striker or the reference in attack for the other team. But this time, it was Tanasijević. While this approach to defense can work, if there is no accurate coordination, it becomes futile and leads to a space for the other teams to run and attack quickly. Rossi, Ramirez, and Cucho were having a feast at times with that space and created plenty of chances to open the score but lacked the inspiration to finish. And I am still not very fond of the duo of Parks and Sands playing as pivots. They are great players, but being the only midfielders does not seem to work. They do great at pressure and pushing up the team, but they do not have the creativity to run in the middle and clean the play for the forwards. It’s easy to speak afterward, but playing so directly as yesterday was a mistake.

It gives Columbus the perfect scenario to play at transitions and establish the pace that benefits them. City was slow, and every time they were on the final third, they lost the ball more often than not. Most of the first half was played the way Columbus intended, and they dominated the play; only their bad finishing and Matt Freese was the explanation for not scoring yet. Ojeda did interesting things in the first half, running to the line and creating some trouble, but again, many people in Columbus’s box made it difficult to make something of it. The pace slowed as time progressed, and the game became more even until the red card of Ilenič in the 39-minute.

A lack of coordination in the pressure was the main factor in this situation happening in the first place, and the referee, after a VAR revision, concluded the fault was an explicit denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. The card obviously changed the game, but if anything, I think Columbus was too confident of the situation and relaxed a bit. They will regret this attitude, as Santi started a counterattack as he passed to Alonso Martínez. He cleverly made a backheel to pass the ball to Ojeda, who grabbed it. After driving past two defenders, the Argentine scored by firing into the bottom right corner. Against the rule of play, City led at half-time. Perea replaced Ojeda at the beginning of the second half, Gray changed sides and played as the left fullback, while Wolf played almost as a right wingback. Sand also helped and played in the same line as the center backs. One man down, City played close to their box, trying to defend their lead with the accumulation of players. Still, just 3 minutes into the second half, a good combination of passes from Columbus moved and confused enough to a City were very passive in their marks to put Ramirez in front of goal with no resistance to tap in and find a quick equalizer.

The tone was similar for the next few minutes. In the 53rd minute, a long ball found Rossi attacking the right side in transition, already marked by Tanasijević. City focuses on that side, and a quick sequence of passes leaves Arfsten alone on the left with time and space to shoot. Freese saves it but cannot grab the ball, leaving it in the box for Farsi to tap in and complete the comeback.
That was the American goalkeeper’s only error in another almost flawless game. But the second goal was vital, as the atmosphere and time for the next 20 minutes were of giving up. Columbus played too quickly and easily with little resistance from NYCFC. Maxi Morales came in at the 56th minute, and while he was good and provided some fresh air and energy to fight back Columbus’s dominance, creating good opportunities, he had little impact this time.
To rub salt into the wound in the 59th, VAR rewarded Columbus with a penalty after they interpreted that Wolf had faulted Farsi when he jumped in the box.

It’s a very gray action, but I find it a soft penalty. We cannot do anything about it, tho.
Cuchi converted in goal in the 64th minute, and it felt like it was game over.
However, Columbus could have interpreted the final 30 minutes of the game better. They led City to win the ball and establish themselves in Columbus’s half. They did not even counterattack for the rest of the game. Of course, Nick Cushing and Wilfried Nancy made their respective changes—Nancy with a more defensive approach and Cushing with the offensive. McFarlane, making his debut, and Jones were electric and courageous in the final third. However, it is time to talk about Santi. After a great game against San Jose Earthquakes, he is back at the peak of his power. He was brilliant throughout the game, taking on defense, connecting the midfield with the forwards, and doing key passes all night. He hit the woodwork in the 30th minute; he started the counterattack with the first goal; in the 56th, he found Wolf attacking the space behind Columbus’s back line as Austin’s shot went wide. And, of course, he scored the second goal when Moralez found Santi with a beautiful ball over the top. Santi dribbled past the Schulte to score. Game on. Or so they thought. But Columbus played their game, time-wasting tactics that desperate City who could not find the coldness to take advantage of their momentum. Despite the fourteen minutes of extra time, it was all over for The Boys in Blue as they fell short.

Despite the loss, there were many lights in the game and reasons to be optimistic for NYCFC. However, the team is still young, and Columbus has won the mentality battle. They played well, but more importantly, keep their calm to overcome the first half. It is easy to see why they are the current MLS Champions, as they are a complete and competitive machine.
What’s next?
New York travels to face Riqui Puig’s LA Galaxy in form. Another test for the Boys in Blue is an away match against another MLS heavyweight next Wednesday.
Columbus Crew also travel as they faced Inter Miami without Messi and Suarez next Wednesday, intending to climb into the standings. Columbus is the team that has played the fewest games in MLS, while Inter Miami is the team that has played the most.
Next matchday is a must-watch!