The 2015 Major League Soccer regular season continues with a battle between Columbus Crew SC (9-8-7, 34 points) and New York City FC (7-11-6, 27 points) at the MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on August 19.
Columbus Crew is currently tied at third place with the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference and it hopes to move up the overall standing by hosting the NYCFC, who are down at the no. 8 spot in the East.
The Black and Gold had just beaten the West's cellar dweller, Colorado Rapids, 2-1, in their most recent game last August 8 on the road, via NBC Sports' Pro Soccer Talk.
Striker Kei Kamara unleashed a double in the 52nd and 64th-minute marks after the Rapids went up 1-0 in the early goings.
Kamara will be a marked man by head coach Jason Kreis' defense as the NYCFC back line will try to contain the 30-year-old Sierra Leone international.
NYCFC is coming off a stunning upset victory over league-leading DC United, 3-1, at the Yankee Stadium in the lone MLS game last Thursday. Spanish striker David Villa and Ghanian midfielder Kwadwo Poku provided two late goals to lift the City side over DCU in a highly entertaining matchup, as per SB Nation.
Designated player and team scoring leader Villa will try to continue his sterling play for NYCFC and is expected to be targeted by the Crew defense.
Prediction: A 2-1 upset by NYCFC over CCSC. New York will carry the momentum of their impressive win over United and Villa will continue to pour out goals.
Columbus Crew starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Clark; Klute, Wahl, Parkhurst, Jiménez; Trapp, Tchani; Steindórsson, Higuain, Finlay; Kamara
New York City FC starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Saunders; Angelino, Hernandez, Facey, Allen; Pirlo, Jacobson; McNamara, Poku, Diskerud; Villa