Columbus Crew SC enters the 2016 MLS regular-season finale this Sunday with a visit to New York City FC and Yankee Stadium. A simultaneous kickoff across the League's 10 matches is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET with a preview MLSMatchday Live show beginning at 3 p.m. and streaming online.
Crew SC enters with an opportunity to affect the Eastern Conference's postseason seeding, with Toronto FC jostling with NYCFC for the conference's final coveted No. 2 seed. Entering the 2016 Audi MLS Playoffs as the second seed guarantees a knockout-round bye as well as home field advantage in the second leg of each round.
Columbus is unbeaten at Yankee Stadium since NYCFC's expansion into MLS in 2015. The sides' only previous meeting in The Bronx resulted in a 2-1 Crew SC victory on August 29, 2015. Both meetings this year have come at MAPFRE Stadium with Crew SC winning 3-2 on April 16 and drawing 3-3 on August 13.
All in all, Crew SC holds a 2-0-2 record against New York City with both teams combining for 18 goals in just 360 minutes of play.
NYCFC was dismantled by D.C. United last Sunday despite David Villa's 22nd goal of the season. His spot kick in NYCFC's 3-1 loss was his fifth goal in his last three matches. The 34-year-old Spaniard sits just one goal behind cross-town rival and New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips in the 2016 MLS Golden Boot race with ground to make up.
Crew SC conclude a three-game season-ending road stint at Yankee Stadium, after seeing their furious second half comeback fall just short in a 3-2 loss to the New York Red Bulls last Sunday afternoon. Adam Jahn scored his third goal over the last two matches for Crew SC, and full back Harrison Afful added a chip to pull within one goal of the Eastern Conference leaders.
Just days before that, against the Chicago Fire on October 13, Crew SC took a point from Bridgeview behind a Jahn brace.
Columbus Crew SC kicks off against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, October 23 (4 p.m. ET / The CW Columbus, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, BCSN2, CD102.5 FM, La Mega 103.1 FM, English radio stream available on ColumbusCrewSC.com).
MLSsoccer.com will again provide expert analysis during the “MLS Matchday Live – Decision Day Pregame” show, preparing fans for the most exciting day of the season. Digital coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on the MLS Facebook page, MLS YouTube channel, and broadcast partner platforms ESPN3, FoxSportsGo, TSNGO, skysports.com, Sky Sports Facebook page, the Sky Sports App for Smartphones, and the FOX Sports Africa Facebook page. Following the final whistle, the “MLS Matchday Live – Decision Day Postgame” show will return to the same digital platforms (with the exception of Sky Sports properties) to analyze the action, debate the playoffs contenders, and look ahead to the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
