New York City II vs Columbus Crew II Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

New York City II welcome Columbus Crew II to Belson Stadium for an MLS Next Pro Group Stage clash on 30 May 2026, with both sides jostling for position in a tightly packed Eastern picture. The hosts are strong at this venue and will see this as a chance to cut the gap on a Columbus side currently better placed in the standings.

In the Northeast Division table, New York City II sit 6th with 15 points from 10 matches, while Columbus Crew II are 3rd with 20 points from 12 games. In the broader Eastern Conference, New York City II are 12th on 15 points and Columbus Crew II 4th on 20 points, a spot that already carries a “Promotion - MLS Next Pro (Play Offs: 1/8-finals)” description. That context underlines how much is at stake: the visitors are defending a play-off position, while the hosts are trying to haul themselves into that conversation.

Stats suggest a tight contest between a home side that rarely draws and a Columbus outfit that has been more prolific but also more vulnerable defensively, especially away from home. With New York City II vs Columbus Crew II historically serving up drama in MLS Next Pro, another high-intensity encounter at Belson Stadium looks likely.

New York City II vs Columbus Crew II Key Stats

• New York City II have taken 15 points from 10 league matches (5 wins, 5 losses, 13 goals for, 16 against) with no draws so far.
• Across their last five MLS Next Pro meetings listed, New York City II vs Columbus Crew II has produced two home wins for New York City II (3-1 and 2-0 at Belson Stadium) and three Columbus Crew II home wins on penalties or in regulation.
• New York City II concede an average of 1.7 goals per match this season, while Columbus Crew II score an average of 1.8 goals per game, highlighting a potential for goals at both ends.

New York City II vs Columbus Crew II — Tale of the Tape

• Position: 6 vs 3 (Northeast Division)
• Points: 15 vs 20
• Goals For: 13 vs 20
• Goals Against: 16 vs 20
• Clean Sheets: New York City II 1; Columbus Crew II 2

In the Northeast Division, Columbus Crew II have the edge in both rank and productivity. They have 20 points from 12 matches, with 20 goals scored and 20 conceded, reflecting a high-event style. New York City II, on 15 points from 10 games with 13 goals for and 16 against, are more conservative in output but still operate with a negative goal difference.

Zooming out to the Eastern Conference, Columbus Crew II’s 4th place and 20-point tally place them firmly in the promotion play-off zone, while New York City II’s 12th position underlines the work they still have to do. However, the gap is only five points and New York City II have played two fewer matches than Columbus Crew II, so a home win here would significantly tighten the race and underline Belson Stadium as a genuine fortress.

New York City II vs Columbus Crew II Key Matchups

M. Jones vs I. Kone

With no explicit top scorers or assist providers listed, attention naturally falls on attacking options from the available squads. For New York City II, attacker M. Jones, aged 22 and wearing number 88, is one of the more experienced forwards in a young group. His role as an attacker at Belson Stadium will be pivotal against a Columbus Crew II defence that has conceded 14 goals in six away league matches this season, an average of 2.3 goals against per away game.

On the other side, Columbus Crew II’s attack is led in part by 23-year-old forward I. Kone, number 49. Columbus Crew II have scored 22 goals in 12 league games, with 9 of those coming away from home at an average of 1.5 per away match. If Kone can exploit New York City II’s tendency to concede 1.7 goals per game overall, he could tilt the balance in favour of the visitors despite New York City II’s strong home record.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

New York City II vs Columbus Crew II has been a lively fixture in MLS Next Pro, with penalty shootouts, high-scoring games and home advantage often decisive. Across the last five meetings listed below, New York City II have won twice at Belson Stadium in regulation, while Columbus Crew II have prevailed three times at Historic Crew Stadium, including twice via penalties after draws in regular time.

• 8 March 2026: Columbus Crew II 0-0 New York City II (Columbus Crew II won 5-4 on penalties) (MLS Next Pro, Group Stage)
• 22 August 2025: New York City II 3-1 Columbus Crew II (MLS Next Pro, Regular Season - 31)
• 12 June 2025: Columbus Crew II 1-1 New York City II (Columbus Crew II won 5-4 on penalties) (MLS Next Pro, Regular Season - 17)
• 14 March 2025: New York City II 2-0 Columbus Crew II (MLS Next Pro, Regular Season - 2)
• 1 September 2024: Columbus Crew II 2-2 New York City II (Columbus Crew II won 4-2 on penalties) (MLS Next Pro, Regular Season - 34)

New York City II vs Columbus Crew II Prediction

Form and analytics point to a finely balanced contest. New York City II’s league form string of “WWLWL” underlines their all-or-nothing profile: five wins and five losses, no draws, and a strong home record of four wins from five. Columbus Crew II’s league form of “LWLWL” suggests inconsistency, but they remain more productive overall, with 22 goals scored and only two clean sheets, indicating open matches at both ends.

The prediction metrics give New York City II a 45% chance of victory and the draw also at 45%, with Columbus Crew II at just 10%. The advice leans towards “Win or draw” for New York City II, reflecting their home strength and the fact that Columbus Crew II have lost four of six away games. Given those probabilities and the recent H2H pattern of tight contests, especially the 0-0 in March 2026 that went to penalties, a narrow home win or a draw looks the most plausible outcome.

Predicted Score: New York City II 1-0 Columbus Crew II

New York City II League Form

WWLWL

Columbus Crew II League Form

LWLWL

New York City II Possible Starting Lineup

Goalkeepers: B. Klein, M. Learned, D. McDermott, T. Romero; Defenders: K. Acito, A. Baiera, A. Campos, Nico Cavallo, J. Lopez, E. Martin, Maxwell Murray, D. Randazzo, K. Smith; Midfielders: Jacob Arroyave, M. Carrizo, D. Duque, C. Flax, D. Kerr, P. Molinari, Musu, K. Pierre, J. Ponce, Arnau Rabassa, J. Shore, J. Suchecki, L. Sunjic, U. Zeitz, G. de Souza; Forwards: C. Danquah, L. De Pinho, A. Farnos, H. Hvatum, M. Jones, S. Reid, E. Samb.

New York City II have a deep and youthful squad with multiple options in every line, especially in midfield where players like C. Flax, Musu and K. Pierre can offer energy and ball progression. In attack, the presence of several forwards, including M. Jones and E. Samb, allows for flexibility between a central striker and wide runners. With one clean sheet recorded this season and an average of 1.7 goals conceded per match, the tactical emphasis at Belson Stadium is likely to be on pressing high and using their 1.6 goals per home game to outscore opponents rather than sit deep.

Columbus Crew II Possible Starting Lineup

Goalkeepers: K. Abbott, Luke Pruter, A. Zochowski; Defenders: R. Aoki, Tristan Brown, G. Di Noto, P. Forfor, I. Heffess, Z. Lloyd, Owen Presthus, C. Rogers, Cesar Ruvalcaba; Midfielders: J. Bonos, J. Chirinos, G. De Libera, Q. Elliot, Eli Granda, A. Grinblat, M. Nyeman, N. Rincon, O. Taylor, Z. Zengue; Forwards: C. Adams, B. Adu-Gyamfi, A. Alaouieh, J. Danjaji, I. Ewing, K. Gbamble, A. Gimple, I. Kone.

Columbus Crew II’s squad blends promising teenagers with more experienced names like Luke Pruter in goal and M. Nyeman in midfield. Their season profile — 22 goals scored and 21 conceded — suggests a side that commits numbers forward, particularly between minutes 31 and 60 where a large share of their goals arrive. Away from home, however, they concede 2.3 goals per game and have yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels, so the likely tactical approach will be to lean on their attacking depth while trying to manage transitions more carefully than in previous away fixtures.

New York City II Team News

No significant absences reported.

Columbus Crew II Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

New York City II:

• None reported.

Columbus Crew II:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: New York City II vs Columbus Crew II

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

• Result Tip: Back New York City II in the Double Chance (home or draw). The prediction metrics give the hosts a combined 90% probability of avoiding defeat (45% home win, 45% draw) against just 10% for a Columbus Crew II victory, and New York City II have won four of five home matches this season.
• Goals Tip: Consider a conservative goals angle such as under a high total line. New York City II average 1.4 goals scored and 1.7 conceded per match, while Columbus Crew II average 1.8 scored and 1.8 conceded. Recent H2H includes a 0-0 in March 2026 and several matches settled by single-goal margins in regulation, suggesting that an overly aggressive goals line may be risky.
• Value Tip: Look at a home win in a tight match (New York City II to win by exactly one goal or similar handicap angles). New York City II’s strong home record (4 wins from 5) combined with Columbus Crew II’s poor away defensive numbers (14 conceded in 6 away games) and the prediction edge in favour of the hosts make a narrow home success an appealing value play.

How to Watch New York City II vs Columbus Crew II

Broadcast coverage varies by region. General guide:

• Spain: Movistar LaLiga
• UK: Premier Sports
• Australia: beIN Sports
• India: FanCode
• MENA: beIN Sports
• South America: ESPN / Disney+
• Africa: SuperSport

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.