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SportsMLS: NYCFC vs Columbus Crew resume after World Cup break; USMNT teammates Freese and Arfsten face off
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New York City FC and the Columbus Crew resume their MLS seasons after a nearly two-month World Cup break, with USMNT teammates Matt Freese (NYCFC goalkeeper) and Max Arfsten (Crew midfielder) facing each other. Freese played four of five matches for the US in their round of 16 run, while Arfsten saw limited minutes. Both will briefly reunite as teammates in the MLS All-Star game on July 29. The Crew sold leading scorer Diego Rossi to Monterrey and added Brais Mendez, Lautaro Giaccone, and Eric Bailly (pending visas). NYCFC welcomed back midfielder James Sands from a loan to FC St. Pauli. The match also features players who faced off in the World Cup, including NYCFC's Australian defenders Kai Trewin and Aiden O'Neill, who lost to the US in the group stage.
Source report
Teammates become adversaries and opponents become teammates when New York City FC plays at the Columbus Crew on Wednesday in the resumption of their seasons following a nearly two-month World Cup break.
World Cup Connections
Goalkeeper Matt Freese of NYCFC (5-6-4, 19 points) and Crew midfielder Max Arfsten represented the United States in their run to the round of 16. Freese played four of five matches, while Arfsten's only minutes came in the closing stages of the 4-1 loss to Belgium in the knockout round.
Arfsten said Monday that he had no inside information on how to beat Freese, noting: "He's been in MLS for a long time so I feel like everyone knows how he plays. There's really nothing I could say. Hopefully, we get some goals on him."
For his part, Freese has reunited with NYCFC teammates in defender Kai Trewin and midfielder Aiden O'Neill — members of the Australian side that the U.S. defeated 2-0 in the group stage.
All-Star Reunion
Arfsten and Freese will briefly be teammates again when the MLS All-Stars face Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars on July 29 in Charlotte, N.C.
Joining them for the exhibition will be the Crew's other World Cup participant, defender Steven Moreira. He was a starter who helped Cape Verde become the smallest nation to reach the knockout round before losing 3-2 to Argentina in extra time.
Roster Changes During the Break
During the World Cup hiatus, both New York City and the Crew (4-7-4, 16 points) revamped their rosters.
NYCFC Additions
- Midfielder James Sands returned to NYCFC on June 18 after a 1½-season loan to German club FC St. Pauli and may be available on Wednesday.
- Sands said Monday he enjoys playing for coach Pascal Jansen, whom he did not previously know.
- "He's demanding and he's going to make me a better player," Sands said. "As far as my role, he's let me settle in and figure things out over the first couple of weeks. I think he's put an emphasis on not overloading me with too much information right away."
Crew Changes
- Sold leading scorer Diego Rossi (six goals, two assists) to CF Monterrey of Liga MX on July 3.
- Added midfielder Brais Mendez of Real Sociedad from Spain's La Liga.
- Added midfielder Lautaro Giaccone from Argentinos Juniors of the Argentine Primera Division.
- Added former Manchester United and Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly.
- All new additions are awaiting their work visas.
This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
Source
Yardbarker: SoccerWestern
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USMNT teammates face off as Crew, NYCFC return from World Cup break