Devils celebrate Marty

THE MATH is pretty easy for NYCFC on Sunday.

A win and the three points that come with it against the Columbus Crew at Yankee Stadium in Sunday’s regular season finale earns the second-year MLS club a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Anything less than victory on the final day of the MLS season could leave Patrick Vieira’s squad playing in the dreaded knockout round next week depending on the results of the other matches. All matches will be played at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

“I think what is really important is to put our focus on Columbus be- cause it’s important for us to finish second so I don’t think about the playoffs yet,” Vieira told reporters on Wednesday. “What I will want is to finish the season well and then we can start thinking about the playoffs.”

After 17 losses and an eighth place finish in its inaugural campaign, NYCFC has made great strides in Year 2 with first-year coach Vieira at the helm. The club sits in second place in the Eastern Conference (14-9-10), trailing only cross-river rival Red Bulls.

Is just making the playoffs enough for a second-year club?

“If you’re in the playoffs, the goal is to try to win it,” Vieira said. “It’s going to be really difficult, really competitive. It makes no sense for us to just say we don’t want to go to the end. Of course we want to go to the end.

“Who we are as a football club, and

NYCFC vs. COLUMBUS

The New Jersey Devils have dedicated a statue outside the Prudential Center to longtime goaltender Martin Brodeur.

The 44-year-old Brodeur was honored prior to the Devils’ game against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night in a ceremony attended by a couple hundred fans on a damp, drizzly night.

The Devils beat the Wild 2-1 on Taylor Hall’s goal 29 seconds into overtime.

GRAND GRANT

Grant Enfinger grabbed his first career NASCAR victory — at his home track, no less — by holding off the pack to win the Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

l Martin Truex Jr. overcame an issue in inspection to win the pole for the playoff elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Truex turned a lap of 193.423 mph to earn the top starting spot Sunday.

ANOTHER QUICK FIX

The Los Angeles Kings placed goalie Jeff Zatkoff on injured reserve after he hurt his groin during a morning skate, setting in motion a chain of events that will force the what we want to achieve and how ambitious we are, we will try to go for it. That’s why it is important for us to give everything in every single game.”

NYCFC could wind up in a first-place tie (54 points) if the Red Bulls lose at Philadelphia, but would lose out on the top seed based on goal differential. Despite featuring the second most prolific offense in the league — thanks in large part to David Villa’s efforts — only Orlando has conceded more goals. That’s an issue the club must address if they hope to make a deep playoff run.

Sunday’s matchup sets up perfectly on paper for NYCFC as the Crew limps into the Bronx with only two road wins this season. NYCFC are unbeaten in their last seven games at the Stadium.

Vieira knows his squad can’t underestimate the Crew, though.

“Columbus, like all teams that didn’t make the playoffs, will want to finish the league well and will want to finish with a win,” Vieira said. “I think they will come here with a strong team and try to play and win the game because they want to show they are better than the league table says. It will be a tough game for us.”

Although NYCFC can’t chase down the Red Bulls for the top seed in the East, Villa has a shot to wrestle the Golden Boot away from Bradley Wright-Phillips on Sunday. Villa, the first player signed in club history, enters the final game of the regular season only one goal behind the Red Bulls star as the league’s top goal scorer.

“We are really ambitious,” Vieira said. “We have to show it. It’s not enough to just say it.”

4 p.m. on YES

Kings’ top minor league affiliate to use a father-son goaltending tandem.

The Kings recalled goalie Jack Campbell from the AHL’s Ontario Reign after their latest goaltending injury. Jonathan Quick is already sidelined for several months with a groin injury.

KORDA CATCHES UP

Jessica Korda caught Minjee Lee in the Blue Bay LPGA. Ariya Jutanugarn made up even more ground to move into contention for her sixth victory of the season. Korda shot a 6-under 66 at Jian Lake to make up seven strokes on Lee for a share of the lead, and Jutanugarn had a 65 to cut her deficit from 10 to two shots and get in the final group Sunday.

INIESTA’S OUT

Barcelona is facing up to two months without the midfield magic of captain Andres Iniesta after he suffered a serious leg injury .

Barcelona said Iniesta injured a ligament in his right knee when he was tackled early in the 3-2 win at Valencia.