Unbeaten streaks collide when the Columbus Crew host New York City FC on Saturday night.
Both clubs extended their unbeaten runs to seven matches with a midweek draw, but that’s where the similarity ends.
NYCFC (5-7-10, 25 points) rallied for a 1-1 result at Charlotte FC on Wednesday. It was the sixth time this season NYCFC earned a point after trailing in the second half, but the club has been unable to get over the hump with six ties and a win in their past seven matches.
“Our mindset coming into the game was amazing,” New York midfielder Richard Ledezma said. “We have to come down from 1-0, we never stop fighting. Our team is really motivated to get three points at Columbus this weekend.”
Meanwhile the Crew (10-6-5, 35 points) allowed a goal by Josef Martinez in the 90th minute and settled for a 2-2 tie at Inter Miami CF on Tuesday. Columbus is 5-0-2 in its last seven matches.
“It’s disappointing for the players,” Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said. “I think that we deserved to win, but the fact that we conceded this goal at the end, obviously, this is like we lost (two) points.”
Handling leads has been a problem for Columbus.
During the unbeaten run, the Crew led Charlotte 3-0 before giving up two quick goals in an eventual 4-2 victory. In the following match, Chicago equalized in the 88th minute before Lucas Zelarayan’s goal in stoppage time gave the Crew a 2-1 win.
NYCFC benefited from a late Crew meltdown as well, earning a 1-1 draw on a 94th-minute goal by Gabriel Segal on June 17.
New York has only one win since April 22.
“I think we’ve got as many positives as what we might perceive as negatives and we have to focus on the positives,” NYCFC coach Nick Cushing said.
The Crew lead MLS with 42 goals scored. They have won five straight at home while outscoring opponents 13-5.
–Field Level Media
