Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew SC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 6/27/21
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew
The 2021 MLS season continues Sunday, June 27, with the interconference showdown at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, where the reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew take on Austin FC. These two foes meet for the first time ever, and the bookies expect to see a tight game, setting the hosts at +150 to beat the Crew, who sit at +175 odds, while a draw pays +220.
Austin FC hopes to finally snap its winless streak
Los Verdes are in crisis, going winless in seven straight games at any location. The newcomers have recorded three draws and four losses in that span, and after their first ten outings, Los Verdes is sitting at the 11th spot of the Western Conference standings with nine points and a 6:11 goal difference.
Austin FC is coming off a 2-0 loss at Minnesota this past Wednesday. It was another lousy performance by Los Verdes who have scored just one goal through their previous six outings. Still, I have to mention that Austin FC has played nine of its first ten games away from home.
Winger Cecilio Dominguez leads the way for Austin with three goals in ten appearances, while forward Jared Stroud has two assists in ten games this season. Los Verdes needs more from midfielder Alexander Ring, who hasn’t done anything in eight games, while left-back Ben Sweat and midfielder Ulises Segura are still on the shelf due to injuries.
Columbus looks to bounce back from a narrow loss at Phila
The Columbus Crew are coming off a 1-0 loss at Philadelphia this past Wednesday, putting an end to a three-game winning streak. The Crew had the ball in possession for 62 percent of the time and took three shots more than the Union (8-5), but they failed to find the net in this Eastern Conference derby.
Columbus is now sitting at the fifth spot of the Eastern Conference standings with 14 points and a 9:7 goal difference. During their three-game win streak, the Crew have beaten Chicago 2-0, Toronto 2-1, and New York City 2-1. However, they’ve earned just four points in five showings on the road so far this season.
Striker Gyasi Zardes commands the way for Columbus, notching five goals in 11 appearances, while midfielder Lucas Zelarayan has four goals and a pair of dishes on his tally. Head coach Caleb Porter has some injury worries ahead of Sunday’s clash, as midfielders Luis Diaz, Aidan Morris, and Perry Kitchen are all unavailable for selection.
The Pick:Columbus Crew +180
Austin FC has been playing in an awful form lately, so I have to back the reigning champs to grab a road victory. The Crew certainly possess more quality than their rivals, especially in the middle of the park, while Gyasi Zardes will be a constant threat to the hosts’ defense.
I’m expecting the visitors to control the ball and create enough scoring chances to outlast Los Verdes. Columbus has dropped three of its previous four games on the road, but the Crew played some tough teams including New England, so they should have enough firepower to deal with Austin FC.
The Pick:Under 2.5 Goals
Austin FC’s last six games produced fewer than three goals in total, and I’ve already mentioned Los Verdes’ attacking woes. They’ve scored only a couple of goals in the last seven games overall. On the other side, four of Columbus’ previous six contests saw fewer than three goals on the scoreboard including two of its last three outings away from home.
Therefore, I’m going with the Under 2.5 Goals. The hosts will take a cautious approach, while the visitors should keep the ball in possession for most of the game and patiently search for an opener. Both teams have been solid defensively so far this season, so betting on the under seems like a logical choice.