This Sunday when New York City Face off against Columbus on Sunday it will be a team searching for a permanent home playing a team about to lose theirs. NYCFC was bumped out of Yankee Stadium when the Yankees made it past Cleveland last week. Citi Field with ironically play host to NYCFC’s fan appreciation day and the last game of the regular season. NYCFC have the chance to solidify their spot as second in the East, but could fall as far as fifth in the playoff standings with a loss and other factors. It is a big day and there are some man questions remaining for the club.
Can NYCFC rebound from their loss to New England and Will Jack Harrison play? The last part of that question was answered Tuesday when Harrison’s red card was reversed by the league. Harrison will play Sunday, but will the team look more cohesive than it did against New England?
NYCFC was outshot twenty two to eight against New England and that must change when they play Columbus, a team hungry to improve their playoff status as well. Maxi Moralez will be back in the lineup on Sunday as well and that should help with the attack. It will be the first time NYCFC have had a healthy starting spine of Alex Ring, Yangel Herrera, and Moralez in several weeks. The team’s chemistry should improve and more chances will be created. Will there be enough time for the team to gel again like they seemed to in mid-season before all the injuries.
Will the fans turn out? This will be an experimental game in many ways as Citi Field will be set up differently from Yankee Stadium. Fans have had to turn in their season tickets and buy tickets on their own for the game. It will be a whole new experiment and one that the Queens council members will be paying attention to as the team is trying put in a bid for a new stadium in either Willets point or Elmhurst. A good turn out and positive results could go a long way towards an eventual bid.
New York City is in control of their own destiny this Sunday. The team, coaches, and fans must all ask and answer questions of themselves in order to win. This game is the difference between second and a playoff bye or a hard fought first round playoff game away. This game could plant a seed for a new home in Queens and provide an answer if the Yankees beat the Astros. This game means a lot. it all comes down to Sunday. See you in Queens.
NYCFC
Columbus Crew
