The Columbus Dispatch

Crew SC vs. New York City FC

- —Andrew Erickson

When: 4 p.m. today

Where: Citi Field, New York TV: Channel 53, Spectrum Sports

Radio: WWCD-FM (102.5), WVKO-FM (103.1, in Spanish)

Records: Crew 16-12-5; NYCFC 16-9-8

Projected starters: Crew — GK Steffen; D Jimenez, Mensah, Williams, Afful; MF Trapp, Artur, Meram, Higuain, Santos; F Kamara; NYCFC — GK Johnson; D Struna, Brillant, Callens, Sweat; MF Ring, Pirlo, Herrera; F Harrison, Villa, Wallace

On NYC: Forward David Villa has 20 goals but just one since the start of September. … NYCFC is 1-2-3 in its last six games. It is 0-1-1 in home games during that stretch, but played one home game in East Hartford, Connecticu­t. … In its two regular-season finales to date, NYCFC is 1-1-0.

On the Crew: Crew SC is on a nine-game unbeaten streak for the first time since 2009. … With a goal, forward Ola Kamara would tie Stern John’s 1999 output (18 goals) for third-most goals in a season by a Crew player … Crew SC is 2-1-0 in three previous regularsea­son finales under coach Gregg Berhalter.

How it might play out: How much will Tuesday’s news that 2018 could be the Crew’s last year in Columbus impact the team? “Focus” has been the word of the week at Crew training. A focused Crew team is capable of beating NYCFC on the road to earn a home playoff game. Any lapses, and the Crew will play on the road Wednesday or Thursday night.

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