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(PHOTOS BY OSVALDO FIGUEROA, JR.)

NEW YORK CITY FC vs. COLUMBUS CREW
YANKEE STADIUM, Bronx, N.Y. Friday, July 30, 2021 (Week 16, MLS Game #203)
7:30 p.m. ET (YES; Bally Sports OH)

2021 SEASON RECORDS

GP W-L-T PTS GF GA
NYCFC 14 7-5-2 23 26 15
at home 8 5-2-1 16 18 7
Crew 15 6-3-6 24 16 12
on road 8 2-3-3 9 5 7

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME: NYCFC 5 wins, 27 goals …
Crew 7 wins, 27 goals … Ties 4
AT NYCFC: NYCFC 4 wins, 11 goals …
Crew 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 1
2021 (MLS):
5/22: NYC 1, CLB 2 (Tajouri-Shradi 18 — Zelarayan 82, 95+)
7/17: CLB 2, NYC 1 (Nagbe 48+; Zelarayan 62 — Medina 47)

UPCOMING MATCHES

NYCFC
Wed. Aug. 4 at Chicago
Sat. Aug. 7 at Toronto
Sat. Aug. 14 Inter Miami
Wed. Aug. 18 at Philadelphia

CREW
Wed. Aug. 4 D.C. United
Sat. Aug. 7 Atlanta
Sun. Aug. 15 at Chicago
Wed. Aug. 18 at Red Bulls

REFEREES
REFEREE: Alan Kelly.
AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori;
4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Thomas Supple

TEAM NEWS
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: NYC: Nicolas Acevedo
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NYC: Sebastien Ibeagha, Valentin Castellanos … CLB:
Pedro Santos, Waylon Francis
INJURED LIST: CLB: Aidan Morris
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: NYC: Sean Johnson, James Sands (USA; Gold Cup) … CLB: Gyasi
Zardes (USA; Gold Cup); Liam Fraser (CAN; Gold Cup)

LAST LEAGUE MATCHES
NEW YORK CITY FC 5
ORLANDO CITY SC 0
Scoring Summary:
NYC–Medina 7 (Castellanos 4) 40
NYC–Tajouri-Shradi 6 (Amundsen 1) 53
NYC–Moralez 1 (unassisted) 65
NYC–Amundsen 1 (Moralez 4) 79
NYC–Castellanos 5 (unassisted) 82
NEW YORK CITY FC–Luis Barraza, Anton
Tinnerholm (Tayvon Gray 70), Maxime Chanot,
Alexander Callens (Santiago Rodriguez 70), Malte
Amundsen, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (Thiago Andrade
57), Alfredo Morales, Jesus Medina (Nicolas Acevedo
70), Maximiliano Moralez, Keaton Parks, Valentin
Castellanos (Andres Jasson 83).

ATLANTA UNITED 0
COLUMBUS CREW 1
Scoring Summary:
CLB–Mensah 1 (Hairston 1, Zelarayan 2) 65
COLUMBUS CREW–Eloy Room, Saad AbdulSalaam, Jonathan Mensah, Aboubacar Keita, Pedro
Santos (Waylon Francis 60), Kevin Molino,
Darlington Nagbe, Marlon Hairston (Perry Kitchen
76), Alexandru Irinel Matan (Derrick Etienne Jr. 45),
Erik Hurtado (Lucas Zelarayan 45), Bradley WrightPhillips (Miguel Berry 76).

GAME-BY-GAME: WON/LOST/TIED

NYCFC LWWTTLWLWWLLWW
Crew TTWLLWWWLTTTWTW

TEAM LEADERS

NYCFC
G: 7 Medina
A: 4 3 players tied
SHT: 57 Castellanos
SOG: 25 Castellanos
FC: 37 Castellanos
FS: 29 Moralez
OF: 13 Castellanos
C: 4 Acevedo/Castellanos
E: 1 Acevedo

CREW
G: 5 Zelarayan
A: 3 Santos
SHT: 36 Zelarayan
SOG: 14 Zelarayan
FC: 23 Santos
FS: 33 Zelarayan
OF: 5 Wright-Phillips/Zardes
C: 4 Francis
E: 1 Afful

COLUMBUS
CREW
2021 REGULAR SEASON:
(6-3-6, 24 pts.)

NEW YORK CITY
FC
2021 REGULAR SEASON:
(7-5-2, 23 pts.)

Date: Friday, July 30
Match Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Kickoff: 7:38 p.m. ET
Location: Yankee Stadium (New York City, NY)
Regional TV: Bally Sports Ohio Neil Sika (play-by-play) Jordan Angeli (analyst)
Brett Hiltbrand (sideline)
97.1 The Fan [Radio]: Chris Doran (play-by-play)
ColumbusCrew.com Spanish Audio Stream: Juan Valladares (play-by-play)

OHIOHEALTH PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT
OUT: Artur – R Hip Injury Aidan Morris – L Knee Injury Milton Valenzuela – R Thigh Injury Vito Wormgoor – R Thigh Injury
QUESTIONABLE: Josh Williams – L Ankle Injury
Health and Safety Protocols
A player may be listed as “Questionable” or “Out” due to Health and Safety Protocols
for the following reasons:
• Quarantine due to participating in high risk behavior. • Quarantine related to being a high risk close contact. • Pending COVID-19 test results. • An inconclusive COVID-19 test result. • A positive COVID-19 test or a confirmed case of COVID-19. • Other illness not related to COVID-19

LAST MATCH RECAP

COLUMBUS CREW DEFEATS ATLANTA UNITED 1-0
On Saturday, Columbus Crew traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to face
Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 67,507 fans. The
Crew found the match’s only goal in the 65th minute when defender
Jonathan Mensah headed in a corner kick. Midfielders Marlon Hairston and Lucas Zelarayan were credited with the assists as Columbus
took a 1-0 win for their second regular-season road victory of 2021.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room recorded five saves and registered his fifth
shutout of the regular season. Mensah provided 14 clearances to
power the defense, which led the Crew to their second consecutive
clean sheet and their sixth of the season.

COLUMBUS CREW VS. NEW YORK CITY FC AT A GLANCE

Columbus Crew record: 7-5-4 (27 GF, 27 GA)
Home games: 5-1-3 (20 GF, 15 GA)
Road games: 2-4-1 (7 GF, 12 GA)
10/18/2020 CLB 3 vs. NYC 1 W Historic Crew Stadium
05/22/2021 CLB 2 vs. NYC 1 W Red Bull Arena
7/17/2021 CLB 2 vs. NYC 1 W Lower.com Field
THE CREW BATTLES NEW YORK CITY FC ON FRIDAY
Columbus Crew travels to New York to face New York City FC on Friday,
July 30. The match is set to be the 17th all-time regular-season meeting
between the two sides. The Crew is unbeaten in its last three matches
against New York City and has outscored New York 7-3 over that span.

LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On July 17, Columbus Crew hosted New York City FC at Lower.com Field.
Columbus opened the scoring in first-half stoppage-time from midfielder
Darlington Nagbe with midfielder Pedro Santos adding an assist. New
York City equalized in the 47th minute from midfielder Jesus Medina.
Columbus regained the lead in the 62nd minute after midfielder Lucas
Zelarayan scored a direct free-kick goal, his fourth direct free-kick goal
of the season. Goalkeeper Eloy Room made six saves as Columbus took
a 2-1 win over NYCFC. With the win, Columbus maintains a five-match
home unbeaten streak against New York City, dating back to the 2018
regular season.

COACHES
Caleb Porter: 96-75-71 (Portland Timbers: ‘13 – ’17; Columbus Crew: ’19 – Present) vs.
Ronny Delia: 19-13-5 (New York City FC ’20 – Present)
Records listed are MLS regular-season total

2021 REGULAR-SEASON SNAPSHOT

COLUMBUS CREW NEW YORK CITY FC

2021 MLS Regular Season: 2021 MLS Regular Season:
Points: 24 Points: 23
Points Per Game: 1.6 Points Per Game: 1.64
Eastern Conference: Fifth Eastern Conference: Sixth
Home: 4-0-3 Home: 5-2-1
Away: 2-3-3 Away: 2-3-1
Goals For: 16 Goals For: 26
Goals Against: 12 Goals Against: 15
+/-: +4 +/-: +11
2021 Regular-Season Leaders
Goals: Zelarayan (5) Goals: Medina (7)
Assists: Santos (3) Assists: Castellanos, Moralez (4)
Shots: Zelarayan (36) Shots: Castellanos (57)
Shots on Goal: Zelarayan (14) Shots on Goal: Castellanos (25)
Fouls Suffered: Zelarayan (33) Fouls Suffered: Moralez (29)
Fouls Committed: Santos (23) Fouls Committed: Castellanos (37)
Yellow Cards Issued: Francis (4) Yellow Cards Issued: Castellanos (4)
Saves Leader: Room (35) Saves Leader: Johnson (26)
GAA Leader: Room (0.77) GAA Leader: Barraza (1.00)
Wins: Room (5) Wins: Johnson (5)

BLACK & GOLD NOTES

WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Friday’s road match against New York City FC begins at 7:30 p.m. ET
and is set to be locally televised on Bally Sports Ohio and via stream
on the Bally Sports App. Neil Sika, Jordan Angeli and Brett Hiltbrand
are slated to have the call in English. Pre-match coverage will begin
at 7:00 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio. The contest is also available in
English on 97.1 The Fan, as well as via stream on 971TheFan.com,
with Chris Doran calling the match. A Spanish audio stream is available on ColumbusCrew.com, with Juan Valladares on the call.

MENSAH SCORES FIRST GOAL OF REGULAR SEASON, SECOND OF
YEAR
Defender Jonathan Mensah scored his first goal of the regular season
in Saturday’s match at Atlanta United. The goal marks Mensah’s first
regular-season goal for the Black & Gold since scoring at New York
Red Bulls during the 2018 season (July 28). Mensah has now scored
two goals this year, having previously scored in the Round of 16, First
Leg of the Concacaf Champions League at Real Esteli FC (April 8).
Mensah has now scored twice and provided four assists in regularseason action for the Crew since joining the Club prior to the 2017 season.

HAIRSTON, ZELARAYAN PROVIDE ASSISTS IN SATURDAY’S MATCH
Midfielders Marlon Hairston and Lucas Zelarayan were credited with
assisting Jonathan Mensah’s goal in Saturday’s win at Atlanta United.
The assist was Hairston’s first of the season and his first regularseason assist since providing a helper as a member of the Colorado Rapids during the 2018 season (at Minnesota United, Oct. 13).
Zelarayan added his second assist of the 2021 regular-season and
his fourth across all competitions this year. His previous assist was a
match-tying assist at FC Cincinnati (July 9).

ROOM REGISTERS FIFTH SHUTOUT OF REGULAR SEASON
Goalkeeper Eloy Room made five saves and recorded his fifth shutout
of the regular season and his seventh across all competitions on
Saturday at Atlanta United. The victory also marks the sixth regularseason shutout for the Crew this season and the second consecutive clean sheet for the Crew, having shut out Nashville SC on July 18.

COLUMBUS CREW DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE SETTING LEAGUEHIGH STANDARDS
Defender Jonathan Mensah made 14 clearances in Saturday’s match
at Atlanta United, tying him for the League lead in single-match
clearances this season. His 11 headed clearances in the match also
set a season-high for a single match, while his season total of 46
paces the League. Mensah is third in the League in total clearances
with 73. Overall, the Crew have 149 headed clearances, setting a
League-high total in the category, while also placing second in the
League in total clearances with 278.
Additionally, the Club leads Major League Soccer in blocks, with 63.
The Black & Gold are tied for the League lead in fewest goals conceded, having allowed only 12 goals through 15 matches. Goalkeeper Eloy Room is tied for the second-fewest goals conceded for
goalkeepers having made 10 or more appearances (10) and has the
second-lowest goals allowed average across MLS with goalkeepers
who have played in 10 matches (0.77).

COLUMBUS CREW SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CAPS (AS OF JULY 27, 2021)
Player National Team Caps Last Appearance
Liam Fraser Canada 8 7/25/21 vs. Costa Rica (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Luis Diaz Costa Rica 7 7/25/21 vs. Canada (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Waylon Francis Costa Rica 7 3/22/19 vs. Guatemala (friendly)
Eloy Room Curacao 40 6/15/21 vs. Panama (FIFA World Cup qualifier)
Harrison Afful Ghana 77 9/08/18 vs. Kenya (AFCoN qua.)
Jonathan Mensah Ghana 60 6/29/19 vs. Cameroon (AFCoN)
Derrick Etienne Jr. Haiti 31 7/18/21 vs. Martinique (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Kevin Molino Trinidad & Tobago 53 7/18/21 vs. Guatemala (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Perry Kitchen United States 5 10/11/16 vs. New Zealand (friendly)
Darlington Nagbe United States 25 3/28/18 vs. Paraguay (friendly)
Gyasi Zardes United States 60 7/25/21 vs. Jamaica (Concacaf Gold Cup)

NAGBE APPROACHING 300 MLS APPEARANCES MARK
With his next appearance, midfielder Darlington Nagbe will make
his 300th appearance in Major League Soccer regular-season action.
Nagbe joined Major League Soccer prior to the 2011 season. During
that time, he has played for the Portland Timbers, Atlanta United,
and the Crew, scoring 31 goals while providing 39 assists. He has
won three MLS Cup titles, having won with the Portland Timbers in
2015, Atlanta United in 2018, and Columbus Crew in 2020.

ZELARAYAN FACES NEW YORK CITY FC WITH CHANCE TO SET
CLUB RECORD
Midfielder Lucas Zelarayan enters Friday’s match against New York
City FC tied with the Club lead in goals scored against NYCFC, having scored four goals in his three appearances against the side. Of his four goals, three were match-winners for the Crew, and three
goals came from direct free-kicks.

COLUMBUS CREW LEADS LEAGUE IN GOALS SCORED
OUTSIDE OF THE 18-YARD BOX
The Black & Gold currently lead Major League Soccer in goals scored
outside of the 18-yard box during the regular-season, having scored
six goals from that area. Additionally, midfielder Lucas Zelarayan
leads the League with five goals scored from the range. For a list of
team and player goals scored outside of the 18-yard box, please see
the table below.
2021 GOALS SCORED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE BOX*
TEAM GOALS

1. Columbus Crew 6
2. Sporting Kansas City 5
   T-3. Six teams tied 4
   2021 PLAYER GOALS SCORED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE BOX*
   PLAYER GOALS (OUTSIDE BOX)
   Lucas Zelarayan (CLB) 5
   Nani (ORL) 3
   Five players tied 2
   *2021 MLS regular season (as of 7/26/2021)

ZELARAYAN LEADING LEAGUE IN DIRECT FREE-KICK GOALS THIS
SEASON
Lucas Zelarayan has scored four direct free-kick goals during the
2021 MLS regular season, having connected versus D.C. United (May
8), twice at New York City FC (May 22), and against NYCFC (July 17).
He currently sits tied for third with David Beckham on the single
season, direct free-kick goal scoring chart. For a list of MLS players
who have previously scored three or more direct free-kick goals in
one season since 2003, please see the table below.
MOST DIRECT FREE KICK GOALS, SINGLE SEASON*
PLAYER TEAM G YEAR

1. Sebastian Giovinco TOR 6 2017
2. Sebastian Giovinco TOR 5 2015
   T-3. David Beckham LA 4 2012
   T-3. Lucas Zelarayan CLB 4 2021
   T-5. Eight players tied – 3

NAGBE AND HAIRSTON: PASS MASTERS
Through 15 matches in the 2021 MLS regular season, midfielders
Darlington Nagbe and Marlon Hairston are among the League leaders in passing accuracy among players who have attempted 100 or
more passes. Nagbe has made 14 starts while completing 694 of his
720 attempted passes for a passing accuracy percentage of 96.39%,
while Hairston has made seven appearances and completed 220
of his 235 attempted passes for a passing accuracy percentage of
93.62%. For a list of five MLS players with the highest passing accuracy this season, please see the table below.
2021 PLAYERS WITH HIGHEST PASSING ACCURACY*
PLAYER ATT. COMP. %

1. Darlington Nagbe (CLB) 720 694 96.39
2. Marlon Hairston (CLB) 235 220 93.62
3. Kamohelo Mekotjo (CIN) 142 132 92.96
4. Anibal Godoy (NSH) 547 508 92.87
5. Adam Saldana (LA) 267 247 92.51
   *2021 MLS regular season (100 or more passes only, as of 7/26/2021)

COLUMBUS CREW PLAYERS ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY

Columbus Crew saw five players make international caps
during the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup: Liam Fraser (Canada),
Derrick Etienne Jr. (Haiti), Kevin Molino (Trinidad & Tobago),
Gyasi Zardes (United States) and Luis Diaz (Costa Rica). Fraser has
made three appearances (one start) for Canada. Etienne Jr. made
two appearances (two starts) for Haiti in the Gold Cup qualifying stage, scoring a goal and providing two assists to help Haiti
advance to the Group Stage. In the Group Stage, Etienne Jr. made
three appearances (all starts), adding two assists. Molino made two
appearances (two starts) for Trinidad and Tobago in the Gold Cup
qualifying stage, scoring two goals and providing an assist as Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the Group Stage. In the Group Stage, Molino made three appearances (one start). Zardes has made four
appearances(two starts) for the United States, scoring a goal and
providing an assist. With the assist against Haiti on July 11, Zardes
became the second fastest United States men’s national team player
to reach the double-digit goals and assists mark,reaching the mark
in his 57th cap. Diaz made three appearances (one start) for Costa
Rica and added one assist. In the Semifinals, Zardes and the United
States will face Qatar while Fraser and Canada will battle Mexico.

BLACK & GOLD QUOTES

ON THE CREW CONTINUING THEIR DEFENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS
“I believe every game that we go out to play we want to keep a
clean sheet. It’s never going to be easy, but we need to defend like
we did today – collectively, stepping in for teammates, covering for
teammates, and I think we might even do better than we did last
season. Talking of what we did last season, we want to improve on
what we did last season. It’s going to take games like this to get into
the rhythm of getting back to getting those clean sheets and win- ning games on the road.”

• JONATHAN MENSAH
  ON THE CREW REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL AS A TEAM
  “But I like it when we’ve not quite peaked until the end, I love it
  when we can still improve and still be better at a lot of things midseason while we still continue to rip off results and wins and I love that because at the end of the day, I like my teams to peak in the last
  five games and we go on a run. At the end of the day, I like where
  we’re at, we’re getting points. Can we play better? Yes, I think every- one in the league can. But look at the lineups, watch the games, and analyze the reality.”
• CALEB PORTER

MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON

CALEB PORTER
• Has won 96 MLS regular-season matches as a head coach and is four wins away
from reaching 100 all-time.
HARRISON AFFUL
• Has made 146 regular-season starts for the Crew and needs four more to reach
150.
DERRICK ETIENNE JR.
• Has made 96 MLS regular-season appearances and needs four more to reach
100.
ERIK HURTADO
• Has made 144 MLS regular-season appearances and needs six more to reach
150.
KEVIN MOLINO
• Has made 94 MLS regular-season starts and needs six more to reach 100.
DARLINGTON NAGBE
• Has made 299 MLS regular-season appearances and needs one more to reach
300.
JOSH WILLIAMS
• Has made 149 regular-season appearances for the Crew and needs one more to
reach 150.
GYASI ZARDES
• Has made 92 regular-season appearances for the Crew and needs eight more to
reach 100.
• Has scored 48 regular-season goals for the Crew and needs two more to reach
50

COURTESY COLUMBUS CREW COMMUNICATIONS