[dropcap]H[/dropcap]eading into Saturday’s match at MAPFRE Stadium, post match fireworks will be in store for the Black & Gold faithful.
However, it is the New York Red Bulls that invade Columbus in top form looking to provide a finale of its own in the form of three points. Dismantling the New York Cosmos 4-1 on July 1 in the US Open Cup round of 16, the Red Bulls face a Columbus Crew SC side that returns home after a less than inspiring 2-0 US Open Cup defeat against Orlando City SC.
Both sides feature some of the league’s best strikers in Crew SC’s Kei Kamara and RBNY’s Bradley Wright-Phillips. With ideal pitch conditions and technically gifted attack personnel, both clubs will look to set the offensive tone early and have opposing defenses chasing for all 90 minutes if possible.
What to expect from the New York Red Bulls
Projected Starting XI (4-4-2) GK: Luis Robles; D: Kemar Lawrence, Damien Perrinelle, Matt Miazga, Chris Duvall, M: Dax McCarty (captain), Sacha Kljestan, Felipe, Mike Grella, F: Anatole Abang, Bradley Wright-Phillips
Standings: 4th place, Eastern Conference, 23 points
Form (previous 5 MLS matches): L-L-L-W-W, 6 points
Handing Columbus its first of two home losses this season in a 2-1 victory on March 28, forward Bradley-Wright Phillips was able to penetrate on long finishing runs in the final third. To neutralize the 2014 Golden Boot award winner and the RBNY attack, Columbus center back and co-captain Michael Parkhurst will need to keep the Crew SC back line tight. Wright-Phillips is especially known for his technical finishing abilities as well as on the counter-attack. With 23 of a total 47 shots hit on goal, the Englishman is not trigger shy and will keep Crew SC keeper Steve Clark extremely busy.
Limiting possession time and getting Crew SC out of its short-passing tactical game will depend on the performance of RBNY midfielder Sacha Kljestan, New York’s attack catalyst. Smooth disbribution from Kljestan to give quality touches to BWP as well as Cameroonian speedster Anatole Abang and midfielder Michael Sam will be critical to give the Red Bulls plenty of scoring chances.
For RBNY to successfully execute its offensive game plan, Kljestan will need to pressure Crew SC’s Tony Tchani and the Columbus defensive midfield into unnecessary mistakes and disrupt passing lanes. Tchani as well as Mohammed Saeid are known for accurate passing as well as disciplined possession football to take pressure off the Black & Gold back line. Expect a physical battle at the midfield between Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty and Tchani, especially in the second half if the score is at a deadlock at the 80 minute mark of the match.
What to expect from Columbus Crew SC
Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK -Clark; D- Jiménez, Parkhurst, Pogatetz, Francis; M- Tchani, Saeid; Finlay, Higuain, Meram; F- Kamara
Standings: 6th place, Eastern Conference, 21 points
Form (previous 5 MLS matches): L-L-T-W-T, 5 points
Crew SC has a dynamic duo in Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay that continues to dominate the MLS leaders stat sheet. On the defensive end, they have a sensational stalwart in goalkeeper Steve Clark, third in the MLS with 59 saves. Despite how good some of the Black & Gold’s key personnel look on paper, Columbus stands 6th in the MLS Eastern Conference table and cannot find a way to win away from MAPFRE Stadium. Back at home, Crew SC will need to find greater consistency and put together a solid 90-minute performance against a streaking and offensive juggernaut that is the New York Red Bulls.
With midfielder Wil Trapp back from injury, Crew SC Head Coach and Sporting Director Gregg Berhalter has options at the midfield that knows how to play two-way football and compete with elite competition from its opposition. Tony Tchani will need to be the x-factor in the middle third of the pitch for the Black & Gold by winning the physical battle and 50/50 balls against Sacha Kljestan. When Tchani and Saeid take the pressure off the Crew SC back line and neutralize the league’s top attackers, Columbus establishes possession and dictate offensive tempo through its short passing game tactics.
By pushing its defensive flanks high with Waylon Francis or finding a streaking Ethan Finlay, open space and through balls down the sideline will be a concern for the New York back line. Matt Miazga as well as Chris Duvall will need to disrupt the timing of Finlay’s runs and limit touches to Crew SC’s Federico Higuain in the middle and final thirds of the pitch.
Accurate crosses as well as set pieces off free kicks and corners are the bread-and-butter type plays for striker Kei Kamara. The Sierra Leonean leads the MLS with 12 goals, many coming from re-directed headers. Whether it be near post or far post, RBNY goalkeeper Luis Robles will be on high alert for Kamara and Higuain off Columbus set piece opportunities.
Predictions
Columbus Crew SC has to keep winning at home at MAPFRE to stay relevant in the Eastern Conference table. Berhalter opted to rest many of his starters against Orlando City FC in the US Open Cup match on Wednesday. The fitness level of Crew SC will be an advantage, especially in the first half of the match. Finlay as well as Higuain will find a way to get quality chances and put the pressure on Luis Robles. With the Columbus midfield keeping the Red Bulls backline on its heels, I expect the Black & Gold to take an early 2-0 lead in the first half. However, Bradley-Wright Phillips will eventually settle in, go into the box unmarked and get New York on the board right before the half.
The pace of the second half will slow down as both defenses make adjustments and neutralize the fast-paced attack many of us are accustomed to in the first half of many MLS matches. Fitness level will be a key determinant as to when Gregg Berhalter and Jesse Marsch utilize subs off the bench. After picking up a yellow card on a questionable challenge by Mohammed Saeid, Berhalter will send in Wil Trapp to a standing applause from the Black & Gold faithful at MAPFRE. Unfortunately for Crew SC, disaster will strike as Kljestan finds a streaking Abang for a 2-2 equalizer.
From the 80 minute mark onward, chippy play will lead to free kick opportunities from 20 yards out, yet to no avail as all shots are cleared by the defense. In the 91st minute, Ethan Finlay finds a narrow yet open alley sprinting 55 yards to the final third. The through ball from Higuain is caught between Robles and Finlay, causing the RBNY to take out Finlay. Awarded a penalty kick after a few previous questionable calls, chaos ensues as multiple RBNY players are booked for dissent. Higuain strikes a firecracker in the bottom left corner past Robles as Crew SC earns a controversial three points. Pandemonium ensures among the Nordecke supporter sections before post-match fireworks.
Columbus Crew SC – 3
Red Bull New York – 2
