Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls
Donkor's late strike stuns Columbus Crew
New York Red Bulls snatch a narrow win with a last-minute goal.
In a tight Major League Soccer clash, New York Red Bulls edged out Columbus Crew 1-0 thanks to R. Donkor's decisive goal in the 89th minute. The home side had been fancied to win comfortably, but the result defied Fipster's low-confidence prediction of a 3-1 Columbus victory. It was a classic smash-and-grab from the visitors, who held on to claim all three points.
Fipster’s pre-match call
Predicted
3-1 Columbus Crew win
Actual
0–1
Outcome probability
As the regular season rolls on, Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls prepare to face off in what promises to be an engaging encounter. Both teams have shown glimpses of attacking flair, but the Crew's recent home form and midfield creativity could prove decisive.
Match factors
Columbus Crew's attacking midfield strength
Maximilian Arfsten's creativity and goal threat provide Columbus a tactical edge in midfield penetration
Julian Hall's scoring consistency
Hall leads New York Red Bulls with 9 goals, showing consistent scoring threat despite team's defensive struggles
Absence of Wessam Abou Ali weakens Columbus attack
Confirmed out due to knee injury, Abou Ali's absence reduces Columbus' attacking options and goal potential
Columbus Crew's recent scoring streak at home
Columbus has scored in their last 5 home games, indicating strong offensive momentum at home
Mohamed Farsi's dual role in defense and attack
Farsi's high assist rate and defensive solidity make him a key player for Columbus on both ends
The context
This fixture marks the 25th round of the regular season in competition 253. Historically, Columbus Crew hold a slight edge in their head-to-head record against New York Red Bulls, having won 9 of their 19 meetings. Matches between these sides tend to be lively affairs, averaging three goals per game.
Key insights

Maximilian Arfsten
Columbus Crew
Arfsten's creativity and goal threat provide Columbus a tactical edge in midfield penetration.
Major League Soccer 26/274 goals and 4 assists in 17 apps this season.

Julian Hall
New York Red Bulls
Hall leads New York Red Bulls with consistent scoring threat despite defensive struggles.
Major League Soccer 26/279 goals in 21 apps this season.

Diego Rossi
Columbus Crew
Rossi is the top scorer for Columbus with strong home scoring form and recent goal involvement.
Major League Soccer 26/276 goals in 15 apps this season, averaging 0.4 goals per game.

Mohamed Ramzdine Farsi
Columbus Crew
Farsi's high assist rate and defensive solidity make him key on both ends for Columbus.
Major League Soccer 26/273 assists in 13 apps this season.
Analysis
Columbus Crew's attacking midfield, spearheaded by Maximilian Arfsten, offers a tactical advantage with his blend of creativity and goal threat. Diego Rossi, the Crew's top scorer with six goals this season, is expected to continue his strong home form. Meanwhile, New York Red Bulls rely heavily on Julian Hall, their leading scorer with nine goals, but defensive vulnerabilities may be exposed. The absence of Wessam Abou Ali due to a knee injury slightly weakens Columbus' attacking options, yet their recent scoring streak at home suggests they remain potent. Mohamed Farsi's dual role in defence and attack adds further balance to the Crew's setup.
Key facts
- 1.Columbus Crew have won 9 of 19 matches against New York Red Bulls.
- 2.Head-to-head matches average 3.0 total goals, aligning with the predicted 3-1 scoreline.
- 3.Diego Rossi is Columbus Crew's top scorer with 6 goals this season.
- 4.Julian Hall leads New York Red Bulls with 9 goals this season.
- 5.Columbus Crew have scored in their last 5 home games, showing strong offensive momentum.
- 6.Wessam Abou Ali is out with a knee injury, reducing Columbus' attacking options.
- 7.Maximilian Arfsten is a key creative force with 4 goals and 4 assists this season.
- 8.Mohamed Farsi contributes both defensively and offensively with 3 assists this season.
Prediction
The prediction favours a Columbus Crew victory with a 3-1 scoreline. The home side's attacking prowess and midfield creativity are likely to outmatch the Red Bulls, who may struggle to contain the Crew's offensive threats. Expect a lively game with multiple goals, but ultimately a clear win for Columbus.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Columbus Crew



Away — New York Red Bulls


The verdict
While the prediction leans towards a Columbus Crew win, the limited match history and missing standings data advise a cautious approach. Nonetheless, the Crew's home scoring momentum and key player performances make them the favourites to take all three points in this encounter.
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Dos Santos
Ruvalcaba
Donkor
Yellow Card
Rodríguez
Yellow Card
Tapia
Sofo
Yellow Card
Rodríguez
Mehmeti
Hall
Giaccone
André Gomes
Donkor
Assist: Harper
Moreira
Yellow Card
Harper
Match Statistics
Columbus Crew
3-4-3Starting XI
- 8S. RodríguezF
- 10Brais MéndezF
- 11B. LennonM
- 18M. AmundsenD
- 20André GomesM
- 25S. ZawadzkiD
- 26L. GiacconeM
- 28P. SchulteG
- 31S. MoreiraD
- 33G. TapiaF
- 50T. KarumanchiM
Substitutes
- 1N. HagenG
- 3E. BaillyD
- 7D. ChambostM
- 12Cesar RuvalcabaD
- 14A. SejdićM
- 16T. HabrouneM
- 19J. ThiaréF
- 24E. BushG
- 77Josef MartínezF
New York Red Bulls
4-3-3Starting XI
- 11J. RuvalcabaF
- 12D. NealisD
- 14J. BazánD
- 15A. MehmetiM
- 16J. HallF
- 17C. HarperF
- 26T. ParkerD
- 34E. HorvathG
- 37M. SofoM
- 48R. DonkorM
- 56M. Dos SantosD
Substitutes
- 6R. VoloderD
- 7C. CowellF
- 8D. RuízM
- 10E. ForsbergM
- 13E. Choupo-MotingF
- 59D. PadelfordD
- 77J. McCarthyG
- 92D. NelichF
Columbus Crew
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. Zawadzki | D | 90 | 7.5 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/1 |
| P. Schulte | G | 90 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Amundsen | D | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| S. Moreira | D | 90 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| Josef Martínez | F | 19 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| André Gomes | M | 83 | 6.8 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3/3 |
| D. Chambost | M | 7 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| T. Karumanchi | M | 90 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B. Lennon | M | 90 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0/1 |
| G. Tapia | F | 71 | 6.5 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | — |
| S. Rodríguez | F | 75 | 6.5 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2/5 |
| L. Giaccone | M | 83 | 6.4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/1 |
| J. Thiaré | F | 7 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Brais Méndez | F | 90 | 6.3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1/2 |
| T. Habroune | M | 15 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| E. Bailly | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| E. Bush | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Sejdić | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Hagen | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cesar Ruvalcaba | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
New York Red Bulls
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Donkor | M | 90 | 7.9 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/2 |
| T. Parker | D | 90 | 7.6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/1 |
| J. Bazán | D | 90 | 7.6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| C. Cowell | F | 24 | 7.4 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2/2 |
| D. Padelford | D | 24 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| E. Horvath | G | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| C. Harper | F | 90 | 7.2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | 1/3 |
| M. Dos Santos | D | 66 | 7.1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/2 |
| D. Nealis | D | 90 | 7.1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| D. Ruíz | M | 10 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Mehmeti | M | 80 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1/1 |
| E. Choupo-Moting | F | 10 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| M. Sofo | M | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| J. Ruvalcaba | F | 66 | 6.4 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/1 |
| J. Hall | F | 80 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2/2 |
| D. Nelich | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Voloder | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. McCarthy | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| E. Forsberg | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |


