Match Preview

MATCH PREVIEW, pres. by Honda: New York Begins 2019 MLS Slate at Columbus

Match Preview 030219

New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew SC


2019 MLS Regular Season Match 1


MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus, Ohio


Saturday, March 2, 2019 – 4:30 p.m. ET


MSG, MSG GO, New York Red Bulls Radio, Sirius XM ch. 157


                                                                     #CLBvRBNY




All-Time Series: New York leads, 30-28-11


Series at Columbus: Crew SC lead, 17-12-6




HARRISON, N.J. (March 1, 2019) – The New York Red Bulls open their 24th MLS Season on the road in a rematch of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Semifinals against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET at MAPFRE Stadium with coverage on MSG, MSG GO and New York Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com. SIrius XM FC Channel 157 will also carry the match in English.


New York head into the new league campaign after two commanding wins in the opening round of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. The Red Bulls won the two-legged series over Dominican Republic-based Atlético Pantoja 5-0 on aggregate.


Austrian winger Daniel Royer paced with Red Bulls with two goals during the series, scoring in each leg. Sean Davis and Andreas Ivan added tallies for the Red Bulls at home to help lead New York past Pantoja.


New York come into the 2019 MLS season on the back of a record-breaking season, setting a league high in points with 71. Despite their 2018 success, last season the Red Bulls took only one point from the two games against the Crew, drawing the away end of their two-game series 1-1.


The Red Bulls and Crew SC met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season, where New York overcame a 1-0 first leg loss in Columbus to win the series on aggregate, 3-1. Royer scored a second half brace for New York to send the Red Bulls into the next round. 


Following Saturday’s match against Columbus, New York and Santos Laguna clash in the SCCL Quarterfinals on Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET from Red Bull Arena.