When RNY FC was in the midst of its winning streak last month, sweeping aside all MLS NEXT Pro competition, there was one result that made the whole league finally say “This team is for real.”
It came in Columbus, against the Crew 2, which came in as the leaders of the Eastern Conference and on a seven-game winning streak.
Well, until they met Rochester.
RNY FC went on the road and stunned Columbus 4-0, which established Rochester as one of the top four teams in the East and a potential playoff champion.
That was the second loss for Columbus Crew 2 on the season, and it has been its last: since then, Columbus has run roughshod over the league, winning 4-2, 5-0, and 6-1, for an aggregate total of 15-3.
It is almost like that match was a wake-up call for the best team in the 21-team MLS NEXT Pro.
So here we are again, one month later, and RNY FC gets a full-strength Columbus–with the league’s leading scorer, Jacen Russell-Rowe in the fold–ready for some revenge.
Oh, Columbus also has Mohamed Farsi, who leads the league in assists from his right back position.
RNY FC will have to be on its game (again, as always), as its summer of home matches begins: this will be the first of six games out of the next seven Rochester plays at Monroe Community College.
There will be fireworks, there will be plenty of first responders and military in attendance, and hopefully, another win to move RNY FC up to third in the table.
Here is your glance at the contest.
MLS NEXT Pro Match Week 13
RNY FC vs. Columbus Crew 2, Friday, June 24, 7 p.m. EDT (12 a.m. UK time), Monroe Community College
Streaming
Use this link to the MLS NEXT Pro site to watch the contest.
Record and place in table
RNY FC: 4-4-3, 18 points, +5 GD, fourth place Eastern Conference, third place Northeast Division, 2-1-1 at home in MLS NEXT Pro.
Columbus Crew 2: 10-2-0, 30 points, +18 GD, first place Eastern Conference, first place Central Division, 5-1-0 away record in MLS NEXT Pro.
Result in the league last match
RNY FC: drew 1-1 with New England Revolution 2, won 5-4 in pens to earn extra point.
Columbus Crew 2: beat Orlando City B 6-1.
Next match for both teams
RNY FC: vs. Orlando City B Friday, July 1, 7 p.m. EDT (12 a.m. UK time), Monroe CC.
Columbus Crew 2: vs. Philadelphia Union 2, Saturday, July 2, 7 p.m. EDT, Historic Crew Stadium
Player to watch for RNY FC
Gibran Rayo, F: the last time Rayo scored a single goal, he followed it up with a brace. That just happened to be in the 4-0 victory over the Crew 2 last month, the game which really put this Rochester team on the map around MLS NEXT Pro. Rayo scored Saturday against the Revs: will he follow it up again with another big performance?
Player to watch for Columbus Crew 2
Jacen Russell-Rowe, F: the MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month for May might be heading for a double. Russell-Rowe has five goals this month, and is coming off a two-goal effort in the 6-1 destruction of Orlando City B (RNY FC’s next opponent). He has 11 goals so far this season, and will be the focal point: he will also be looking to help avenge a 4-0 loss to Rochester last month.
Prediction
I cannot imagine this game is going to be as easy as the one last month in Columbus. That 4-0 scoreline was not flattering, either: it was complete domination from RNY FC from start to finish. Russell-Rowe was not in the lineup that day, so this game is going to be different. I would expect both teams to find the net, and we might be headed to another set of penalties. RNY FC 2-2 Columbus Crew 2, RNY FC wins 5-3 in penalties.
