New York City FC welcomes the defending MLS champions, Columbus Crew, to Yankee Stadium in a crucial Eastern Conference showdown that could significantly impact playoff positioning. NYCFC currently occupies 8th place with 44 points from 27 matches, sitting in the final wild-card playoff spot, while the Crew finds itself in 7th position with 46 points from 28 games – just two points ahead in the 2025 MLS standings.
New York City vs Columbus Crew teams desperately need points to secure their postseason aspirations, making this encounter a must-win affair for playoff positioning. The Eastern Conference remains incredibly tight, with only six points separating 5th-place Orlando City SC (47 points) from 9th-place New York Red Bulls (40 points).
New York City vs Columbus Crew Soccer Match, team news, H2H, lineups, and prediction
- Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
- Time: 19:30 EDT (23:30 UTC)
- Venue: Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
- Competition: Major League Soccer (MLS) 2025 Regular Season
Defending Champions Under Pressure
Columbus Crew enter this fixture carrying the weight of expectations as the 2024 MLS Cup champions and Leagues Cup winners. However, their title defense has been far from smooth, with inconsistent form throughout the season raising questions about their ability to repeat last year’s success.
The Crew’s championship pedigree was built under Wilfried Nancy, who was named the 2024 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year after leading Columbus to club records in points (66) and goals scored (72). Nancy’s side set the league’s best goal differential (+32) last season, but that dominance has been harder to replicate in 2025.
Alonso Martínez’s Remarkable Rise
NYCFC’s attacking threat centers around Alonso Martínez, who has emerged as one of MLS’s most prolific scorers since joining the club in 2023. The Costa Rican forward has netted 14 league goals in 2025, bringing his total to 30 goals in just 3,497 minutes of MLS action – an impressive rate of 0.77 goals per 90 minutes.
Martínez’s meteoric rise has seen him climb to 3rd on NYCFC’s all-time goal-scoring list, surpassing club legend Maxi Moralez (29 goals) and trailing only David Villa (77 goals) and Taty Castellanos (50 goals). Remarkably, he was signed as a “depth-piece winger” on a free transfer from City Football Group affiliate Lommel SK, making his transformation into a clinical striker one of MLS’s great success stories.
His recent form has been particularly impressive, scoring the go-ahead goal in NYCFC’s 3-1 victory over Chicago Fire just days ago, extending his goal-scoring streak. Martínez signed a contract extension through 2027 with options through 2029 in February 2025, underlining the club’s faith in his abilities.
New York City vs Columbus Crew Head-to-Head History
The historical record slightly favors Columbus Crew, who have won 11 of the 28 previous meetings compared to NYCFC’s 9 victories and 8 draws. However, recent form suggests a more even contest, with NYCFC winning 3 of the last 5 encounters against the Crew.
| Total Meetings | NYCFC Wins | Columbus Wins | Draws | NYCFC Goals | Columbus Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 48 | 45 |
The goal statistics reveal how closely matched these sides have been, with NYCFC outscoring Columbus 48-45 across all meetings. At Yankee Stadium specifically, NYCFC have shown strong home form, with a 69% win rate at home and averaging 1.53 expected goals per game.
Recent Form Analysis
NYCFC’s Momentum
New York City FC have found their rhythm at the crucial stage of the season, winning 4 of their last 5 MLS matches. Their recent victories include impressive performances against FC Cincinnati (1-0), Nashville SC (2-1), and Chicago Fire (3-1).
Under Pascal Jansen, NYCFC have developed a more direct attacking approach that maximizes Martínez’s strengths in the penalty area. The Dutch coach was brought in to unlock the potential of the club’s expensive signings, and early signs suggest his tactical adjustments are paying dividends.
Columbus Crew’s Inconsistency
Columbus have struggled to maintain the consistency that characterized their championship season, managing just 5 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses in their recent 14-match stretch. Their away form has been particularly concerning, conceding 1.07 goals per game on average in away fixtures.
The defending champions were shockingly eliminated in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs by the New York Red Bulls, ending their title defense prematurely. This early exit has added pressure to their 2025 campaign, with expectations remaining high despite the inconsistent results.
Key Player Battles
Martínez vs Columbus Defense
NYCFC’s attacking threat revolves around Martínez’s movement in the penalty area and his clinical finishing ability. Columbus will need to contain his runs behind the defense and limit service from wide areas, particularly from Santiago Rodríguez and Maxi Moralez.
Cucho Hernández’s Impact
Columbus striker Cucho Hernández remains their primary goal threat, with his pace and directness capable of exploiting NYCFC’s defensive vulnerabilities. The Colombian’s ability to create chances in tight spaces will be crucial against a compact NYCFC defensive structure.
Midfield Control
The battle for midfield supremacy between James Sands (if available) and Darlington Nagbe could prove decisive. Nagbe’s experience and passing range give Columbus an advantage in possession, while NYCFC will look to disrupt their rhythm through aggressive pressing.
New York City vs Columbus Crew Tactical Analysis
NYCFC under Pascal Jansen typically deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation that emphasizes quick transitions and direct attacking play. The system is designed to maximize Martínez’s goal-scoring threat while providing support through wing play and set-piece situations
Columbus Crew prefer a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation that allows for flexible attacking patterns. Their system relies heavily on wide play and quick passing combinations to create scoring opportunities, though defensive inconsistencies have plagued their season.
Team News & Availability
NYCFC Injury List
- Keaton Parks (leg injury) – late September return
- Malachi Jones (leg injury) – late September return
- Nico Cavallo (leg injury) – early October return
Columbus Crew Concerns
- Mohamed Farsi (injury) – doubtful
- Rudy Camacho (injury) – doubtful
- Sean Zawadzki (injury) – unavailable
New York City vs Columbus Crew Match Prediction
Despite Columbus’s championship pedigree, NYCFC’s superior recent form and home advantage make them slight favorites. Several factors support this assessment
- Home fortress: NYCFC’s strong record at Yankee Stadium (69% win rate)
- Martínez’s form: 14 league goals and climbing the all-time scoring charts
- Momentum: 4 wins in last 5 matches compared to Columbus’s inconsistency
- Playoff desperation: Both teams need points, but NYCFC has less margin for error
The statistical analysis suggests an entertaining encounter, with both teams likely to score given their attacking threats and defensive vulnerabilities. NYCFC’s home advantage and current momentum should prove decisive in a closely-contested affair.
- Predicted Result: New York City FC 2-1 Columbus Crew
How to Watch New York City vs Columbus Crew
- United States: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
- Canada: TSN / RDS (selected markets)
- International: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Kick-off Time by Region:
- Eastern Time: 19:30 EDT
- Central Time: 18:30 CDT
- Pacific Time: 16:30 PDT
- United Kingdom: 00:30 BST (Thursday)
This encounter promises to be a pivotal moment in both teams’ seasons, with playoff positioning hanging in the balance and individual brilliance potentially deciding the outcome at the iconic Yankee Stadium.