New York City FC Vs Columbus Crew
New York City FC Vs Columbus Crew Saturday 31 July, 2021 – 00:30 (BST)
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Columbus Crew +1.25 (Asian Handicap)
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 29 July 2021)
Preview: Contrasting records when at home and when not point to a straightforward MLS outing for New York City FC this weekend. However, a Columbus Crew outfit now unbeaten in six will clearly have other ideas. Especially as The Crew have won the previous three competitive meetings.
US Major League Soccer Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
New York City – Yankee Stadium proving quite the fortress?
NYCFC did what their underlying numbers, and what many shrewd observers in MLS circles, had hinted they may be verging on: delivering an old fashioned beat-down. New England and Sporting Kansas are the only teams with more MLS goals in 2021, while long-time Western Conference frontrunners Seattle Sounders are the only ones boasting a superior positive goal difference than Ronny Delia’s men.
So it was probably only a matter of time before someone felt The Pigeons wrath. That it was Orlando City, a side which has consistently chilled towards the top end of the Eastern standings, was all the more impressive, dismantling the current fifth-best outfit in the league 5-0 in New York. In turn equalling their widest margin of victory for the season, the 5-0 dismantling of FC Cincinnati back on Matchday 2 in April.
That stunning performance earned them successive victories for the third time this season, having edged out CF Montreal 1-0 four days earlier. They failed to make it to three the last two times though, but will be confident third time really is a charm Saturday. That is mainly down to them being back at fortress Yankee Stadium, where they have tasted defeat once this term having won each of the last four.
Columbus Crew – Is this team underrated?
On the back of just their second road win of the season last time out in Atlanta, the Columbus Crew briefly rose to third in the Eastern Conference, before hunkering down in fifth place once the rest of the MLS action wrapped up. The reigning MLS Cup Champions are quietly enjoying a steady, if unspectacular, season though. To such an extent manager Caleb Porters feels his team aren’t given due respect.
Playing a beleaguered Atlanta United outfit enduring the longest wait for a win in their franchise history clearly helped the cause of The Crew. Meanwhile the goal which clinched three points was also a set-piece move, so it wasn’t as though there was much between the sides. Furthermore, that was only their fifth away goal in eight away matches this season, with only three teams in either division faring worse.
Therefore it is probably best we interpret that result for what it really is: a hard-fought win against the most out of form team in MLS right now. From a Columbus Crew perspective, however, their recent form now reads two wins and no loss in six. And while this isn’t their most productive spell, it is their longest without incurring defeat. Which augurs really well ahead of this daunting visit to the Big Apple.
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New York City FC Vs Columbus Crew Betting Advice
Judging by the most standard of metrics (points earned), these teams are about as evenly matched as we will find all weekend. In terms of raw underlying numbers though (Expected Goals), New York City are not only several classes above Columbus Crew. They are among the best in the Eastern standings, ranking behind only Nashville SC – and above actual leaders New England Revolution – for what it’s worth.
New York City Vs Columbus Crew – Key Facts:
- Columbus Crew are considered significant underdogs at Yankee Stadium this weekend, but posses a tidy record in this fixture. The Crew have won the last three MLS encounters between the sides.
- Between them this season, these two teams have kept 11 clean sheets (NYCFC 5, Crew 6). Only Nashville SC boast more defensive shutouts than this pair.
- New York City are targeting their fifth consecutive home win. Whereas Columbus Crew will be determined, no doubt, to see their current six-match unbeaten spell (W2 D4) prolonged.
Columbus Crew are now six unbeaten. However, this run will be tested to its fullest at Yankee Stadium, against a NYCFC side that has won its last four home outings on the bounce. Nevertheless I am taken aback by the short price about the hosts. The Crew aren’t the best travellers but do have a tendency to keep contests close. This is a also team with three defeats all season, with only one by a margin greater than one goal.
Best Betting Odds – New York City Vs Columbus Crew
New York City – 1/2 (WilliamHill)
Draw – 7/2 (Betfair)
Columbus Crew – 11/2 (PaddyPower)
