New York City FC entertain the Columbus Crew on Friday night.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Brianna Mac Kay, Sports Reporter for the Columbus Dispatch.
Hi Brianna, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been covering the Columbus Crew?
I have been covering the Crew for The Columbus Dispatch since the end of November. My first game was Columbus' overtime victory over Orlando City SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
What has been your highlight in that time?
In just my third game on the beat, I had the opportunity to cover the Crew's MLS Cup victory, which was a great experience. And most recently, I had the chance to travel to Pachuca, Mexico to cover the Crew in the Champions Cup final.
What were your thoughts on the 2023 season?
Coming in the beat so late, I only had the chance to cover the highest points of the 2023 season for Columbus, but looking at it overall, it was upwards progression for the Crew to discover their identity under Wilfried Nancy that ended in the most ideal way for the club.
What are your hopes for the 2024 season?
I personally do not have any specific hopes for the Crew in the 2024 season, I just hope for myself to continue producing quality content for Crew fans to enjoy.
What do you think will be the deciding factor in Friday's game?
I think the deciding factor will be how Columbus bounces back from a tough loss in the Champions Cup final. There is still a lot of MLS regular season left, so they can't be distracted by the past.
And for any fans that might be in Columbus for a game in the near future are there any spots you'd suggest they check out?
If you are in Columbus, a great place to check out that usually always has soccer on in Endeavor Brewing. Great drinks and they always have a food truck outside.
