The international break no doubt seemed to last forever for Columbus Crew fans. After a bleak 3-0 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final against Pachuca, the Crew have had a 12-day break. During that break, the Black & Gold lost general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, hired new GM Issa Tall, removed Crew 2 GM Corey Wray, signed Dylan Chambost and are close to selling midfielder Aidan Morris.

Lots has happened in Columbus since the Crew last took the field. But Friday night presents a chance for fans, players and coaches alike to return to on-field action.

The Black & Gold are in the Big Apple for a showdown with New York City FC, who has won five games in a row. A good result for Columbus is needed to give a jolt to their league campaign ahead of a busy summer for the club.

Below is everything about the Pigeons and how the Crew can get its fourth road victory in a row. 

New York City FC at a Glance

Record: 9-2-5, 29 points

League Form: W-W-W-W-W

Leading Scorer: Alonso Martinez, Santiago Rodriguez (6)

Assist Leader: Santiago Rodriguez (4)

Player to Watch: Santiago Rodriguez

Rodriguez has been the feature attacker for this NYCFC side so far in 2024 and for good reason. The 24-year-old Uruguayan is entering the prime of his career and is in the middle of another strong season in 2024.

With six goals and four assists, Rodriguez leads City in production but also is the conductor of the attack. Usually used as a central midfielder, Rodriguez has the freedom to roam about the field, looking for pockets of space to drift into and receive the ball. From there, Rodriguez is an excellent passer of the ball and has 1 v. 1 ability to beat his defender. These skills, paired with his finishing ability, make him a threat to score or help a teammate score every time he picks up the ball. Crew players should be wary of Rodriguez at all times Friday night. 

How New York City FC play

NYCFC boss Nick Cushing is in his second full season in charge in the Big Apple after taking over as the interim manager in 2022. Cushing has stuck to the same general shape over the course of his time with City, preferring to play with a back four and three central midfielders. This year, Cushing usually sets his side up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. NYCFC has been known for its possession-based, proactive attacking style over the years. However, this year’s team has a few more wrinkles up their sleeves than in years past. 

In possession, NYCFC looks to shift into what is probably the most common attacking shape in MLS, with the outside backs moving higher up the field, the wingers moving into the half spaces inside, the central midfielders staying a little deeper to help circulate the ball and the striker occupying the opposing center backs. This shape is very common around the league and one the Crew have seen before.

However, where this New York City team is different is how it attacks out of this shape. In the past, the Pigeons would be happy to move the ball from side to side and pull the opponent apart with their passing. Instead, this year, NYCFC has a huge focus on attacking quickly and directly whenever possible. City ranks fourth in both attacking direct speed and direct attacks, according to Opta. Comparing this to the 2023 season, where NYCFC ranked 18th and 15th, respectively, and you can see a clear shift in attacking philosophy for Cushing and his staff.

Look for New York City to continue in this vein on Friday, as the Crew is often vulnerable to direct attacks and counter attacks due to the number of players Columbus pushes into attack.

There is an arguably even bigger shift in defensive philosophy from Cushing in the 2024 campaign. While City’s defensive shape remains flexible, Cushing usually opts for a 4-4-2 setup without the ball.

This is similar to last year for NYCFC. The difference comes in the amount of pressure and the areas of the field where that pressure is applied. This year, New York City applies pressure all the way up the pitch and prefers to press the opponent high up the field as much as possible.

This is a huge shift for Cushing. Thie Pigeons have the second lowest passes per defensive action in MLS. They rank higher than many traditionally high-pressing teams such as the New York Red Bulls, DC United, the Philadelphia Union and others. Compared to last season, NYCFC was 14th in the league in PPDA. Once again, there is a clear shift in philosophy from Cushing in the 2024 campaign.

While much of the tactical structure of City remains the same as it has been for years, the 2024 team is clearly different in how it goes about its business.

How the Crew can win

1. Play through the pressure. NYCFC will press the Crew high up the field looking to create turnovers and make the Black & Gold uncomfortable. If Columbus can pass through this pressure, the visitors can have a field day attacking at the other end. Look specifically for the Crew to use the midfielders to swing the ball from side to side in order to beat this pressure. 
2. Counter press. City will look to play forward as soon as the team can after winning the ball back. This, of course, is dangerous to the Black & Gold when done well. However, this style also allows Columbus to suffocate NYCFC in its own half if the Crew can counter press effectively. The Black & Gold are usually good at this, but keep an eye on how many times Columbus can win the ball back within a few seconds of losing it. 
3. Get into a rhythm early. The last time the Crew had a long break, the team played in the Hell is Real Derby at home. We all know how that went, and the Black & Gold didn’t look like they were in much of a rhythm that whole match. Look for them to try and connect a lot of passes and generate attacking moves early.