Our prediction for this MLS match:
New York City
Match Time & Date:
15/05/2022
01:00
Prediction: 3-2
Columbus Crew
All eyes will be on Yankee Stadium when New York City and Columbus Crew face each other in a highly-anticipated MLS game. The Blue Pigeons have big ambitions for the 2022 season, and their current form is surely giving fans a reason for optimism. Following three consecutive league wins, New York City shared the spoils with Sporting Kansas City at the weekend, but they are seen as hot favourites to beat Columbus on home soil.
Defender Anton Tinnerholm should be the only absentee in the home side. The Crew, on the other hand, have yet to record a win on the road this season, which is probably the main reason why we are going to put our money on the Blue Pigeons. Erik Hurtado is pushing for a start after scoring as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with New England Revolution, while Kevi Molino remains on the sidelines through injury.
Highlighted Player (Alexei Koselev):
Alexei Koselev is a Moldovan international who plays for Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard. Koselev started his youth career at Kuban Krasnodar, but he did not see any game action with the Russian club at senior level.
The Moldovan goalkeeper played for the likes of Gagauzia, Dacia-2 Buiucani, Real-Succes, Saxan Gagauz Yeri, FC Tiraspol, Sheriff Tiraspol, and Politehnica Iasi before joining Fortuna Sittard in the summer of 2018. Alexei Koselev has 18 caps for the Moldova U21 team, and he made his senior debut in a qualifier against Russia in 2015.
The 200-cm-tall shot-stopper managed to keep his first clean sheet with the Moldova national team in a 2-0 win over San Marino on March 19, 2017. Alexei Koselev’s preferred foot is right, and he wears the No. 77 shirt at Fortuna Sittard. He made his Eredivisie debut on August 11, 2018 in a 1-1 draw with Excelsior.
Highlighted Team (Columbus Crew):
Columbus Crew are an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Black & Gold participate in the Eastern Conference and in 2008 they won both the conference and the MLS CUP final. Columbus Crew defeated New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final, with the likes of Moreno, Marshall and Hejduk scoring for the Black & Gold in the title game.
The club welcome their rivals at Mapfre Stadium, the venue which was opened on May, 15 1999. The current capacity of the stadium is 19.968 and it has to be noted that Mapfre Stadium is the first soccer-specific venue ever built for a MLS club.
A number of high-profile players were part of Columbus Crew in the past, but Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the most famous footballer that wore the black and yellow shirt. Schelotto played for Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2010 and during his spell with the Mapfre Stadium outfit the Black & Gold won the aforementioned MLS Cup.
