With nearly a third of the MLS regular season behind them, the Columbus Crew and New York City FC find themselves in similar positions within a tightly contested Eastern Conference. Both teams hold identical records as they prepare to face off on Sunday afternoon in New York.
The Crew (3-5-3, 12 points) have scored more than two goals only once in their first 11 games. After a rough 0-3-2 start, they have gone 3-2-1 in their last six matches. Last weekend, Columbus squandered a two-goal lead after the 56th minute, losing 3-2 at home to Minnesota United. Taha Habroune opened the scoring in the 31st minute and Hugo Picard doubled the lead 25 minutes later before the collapse. The Crew conceded two goals from corner kicks within seven minutes and allowed the decisive goal on a header in the 74th minute.
“We are taking steps, but you can also see—especially in the second half—that we are far from finished,” said Columbus head coach Henrik Rydstrom. “There is a lot we still need to improve.”
NYCFC (3-5-3, 12 points) will also meet the Crew in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on May 20, but their immediate focus is snapping a seven-match winless run in league play. Since starting the season 3-0-1, the Pigeons have gone 0-5-2. During this stretch, they have been outscored 15-8 and have not found the net since Talles Magno’s 79th-minute goal in a 4-4 draw with FC Cincinnati on April 22.
After a 1-0 loss to Montreal on April 25, NYCFC fell 2-0 at home to D.C. United last weekend. Magno missed that match due to a calf injury, giving Malachi Jones his first start since breaking his leg in June 2024. With Magno expected to be sidelined for several weeks, Jones will have an extended opportunity in the starting lineup.
“I’ll need to take those chances more often, and that’s part of finding my rhythm again,” Jones said. “I have to put the team on my back and say, ‘I’ll get us a goal if needed.’ Coming back from injury, those are moments I must handle and finish—because that’s the standard I hold myself to.”
