Columbus Crew II secured a 4-2 victory over New York City II at Historical Crew Stadium on Friday evening, settling a Group Stage encounter in MLS Next Pro. The result extends their unbeaten run at home and moves them further clear at the top of the table. They have not won since their defeat to New York Red Bulls II last week, but this performance suggests they are finding their rhythm again.
K. Gbamble opened the scoring in the fourteenth minute, a clinical finish that set the tone for what followed. The visitors equalised through C. Flax from the penalty spot just before half-time, a moment that shifted the momentum. O. Presthus then marked his first start with a goal in the fifty-fourth minute, before adding a second five minutes later to put the hosts in control.
By then, the match had opened up considerably. L. Sunjic pulled one back for City in the ninety-second minute, but K. Gbamble sealed the victory with his second goal of the night in the ninety-seventh minute. The academy graduate marked his first start with a goal, and his brace proved decisive in a game where three or four moments made all the difference.
Columbus dominated the attacking numbers despite City enjoying more possession. The hosts registered 142 attacks compared to 165 for their opponents, but their 8 shots on target yielded 4 goals while City managed only 7 on target for 2. The shots accuracy figures tell the story — 53 per cent for Columbus against 58 per cent for City, yet the hosts took their chances far more effectively.
On the table, Columbus remain in first place with 45 points from 25 games, while City sit fifth with 39 points. The six-point gap between them is significant in a group where every victory counts. This result means City will need to dig in for their remaining fixtures if they want to challenge for top spot.