RNY FC Gets Set to Take on Top Seed Columbus in MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs 

September 23, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Rochester New York FC News Release

The first MLS NEXT Pro regular season is now done and dusted, and we get a chance to move into the next phase of the 2022 campaign.

Knockout soccer in the postseason.

RNY FC made the top four and gets a chance to add a piece of silverware to the cabinet, if it can navigate three tricky games against three very good teams.

But coaches always say “Focus on the game in front of you.” A potential Eastern Conference title and MLS NEXT Pro championship are fantastic goals to have, but first, Rochester has an extremely daunting task in front of it Saturday.

As the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, RNY FC gets a trip to Columbus to take on the team that ended the regular season six points clear of any of the other 20 teams in the league: the Crew II. Columbus won 16 of its 24 matches and only lost three times, and went 11-1 at Historic Crew Stadium during the season. Their goal difference of +40 was 33 clear of the other three playoff teams in their conference, and only the Tacoma Defense (32) were within 23 goals of this vaunted offensive attack lead by potential league MVP Jacen Russell-Rowe.

But guess who handed the Crew II their only loss at home?

There is no other way to put it: this is going to be a monumental test for Rochester. But all season, this RNY FC team has faced challenges and found ways to overcome them.

Visa issues prior to the season, month-plus long winless streaks, injuries, you name it, Rochester dealt with it. The team never waivered, and here they are, with a chance to keep their season going for one more week.

Who better to open the first MLS NEXT Pro playoffs than us?

MLS NEXT Pro Match Week 24

1-Columbus Crew II vs. 4-RNY FC, Eastern Conference Semifinals, Saturday, Sept. 23, 3 pm.. EDT (8 p.m. UK time), Historic Crew Stadium.

Streaming

Use this link to the MLS NEXT Pro site to watch the contest.

Result in the league last match

RNY FC: drew 2-2 with NYCFC II

Columbus Crew II: defeated FC Cincinnati II 9-0

Result last times teams played

RNY FC won 4-0 on May 29; RNY FC drew 0-0, won 4-2 on penalties

Next match for both teams

TBD. Eastern Conference Final for winner, end of season for defeated team

Player to watch for Columbus Crew II

Jacen Russell-Rowe, F: well, this is about the easiest player to watch we have had all season. Russell-Rowe has torn apart the MLS NEXT Pro to the tune of 21 goals (league leader by five) and had four goals in the 9-0 win last…