Columbus Crew vs Toronto
29 May 2000hrs
Football – USA – MLS
Pick Columbus Crew
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 21/20 odds taken 2000 GMT, Tuesday 25 May
Champions Columbus Crew will be looking to get their season going when they take on a Toronto team who are struggling to find any form of their own so far.
Table of Contents
Columbus Crew Preview – Will the current champions build on their weekend win to move into the playoffs?
Columbus Crew won their first MLS Cup in 12 years last season when beating Seattle Sounders 3-0 in the final last December. It was a huge moment in the club’s history, especially as they were not fancied beforehand and in what is something of a unique season with all the goings on. It was Caleb Porter’s second season in charge of the club who himself was winning his second title as a head coach having won it with Portland Timbers five years previous.
As ever with any success it’s about how you back it up and that’s the challenge for Crew. So far this season it’s proven to be challenging to find consistency although it should be noted that despite finishing third in the Eastern Conference en route to the playoffs last year they won just over half their regular season games.
Toronto Preview – Can Toronto move up the table with what would be just their second win of the season?
Former New York RB head coach Chris Armas is in his first season in charge of Toronto and is finding life tough so far. The Canada-based club are in 12th spot in the Eastern Conference with one win their first six matches. That solo victory happened to come against Columbus earlier this month with goals from veterans Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.
There may well be something of a hangover for the squad despite the change in coach having lost in extra time in the quarter-finals of the playoffs last season. Defeats like that can take some time to get over and Armas will be hoping his team can find a better standard over the coming matches.
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Since beating Crew at home Toronto have been on the road away to New York City and Orlando, taking only one point from the two games combined. They too will be trying to end this part of the season on a high as the MLS takes a break for a month.
Injuries haven’t been kind to Toronto so far this season with Pozuelo – the league’s MVP from last season – not having played a game through injury. His return should see a dramatic upturn in fortunes.
Columbus Crew vs Toronto Betting Advice
As often seems to be the case in the MLS this is the second meeting between the teams in the space of two weeks. Toronto made home advantage count but they are looking for their first victory here since 2017 and Columbus are traditionally very strong at home.
With neither team playing again until late June then this match does take on extra significance.
Key Facts – Columbus Crew vs Toronto Betting Tip
- Columbus Crew won their second MLS Cup last season when defeating Seattle Sounders 3-0 in the final
- Toronto’s only win so far this season came at home to this opponent earlier in May
- The last time Toronto won away to Columbus was back in 2017 – they won 2-0 on that occasion
The absence of Pozuelo remains a big negative for Toronto and with just one home defeat in their last 15 MLS games, I’m happy siding with Columbus to get the three points here and be the happier of the teams heading into the extended break.
