FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 7/9/21
Cincinnati is unbeaten in their last three matches and they host a Columbus Crew squad that is winless in their last three matches.
Columbus has gone three matches without a win, and they have played to a draw in their last two. The club is in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference, is 4-4-3 in 11 matches, and they have a goal differential of +2.
FC Cincinnati played to a draw in their last match after winning their previous two. The club is only three points out of the basement in the East and they have a goal differential of -8 with the main issue being their attack, which has only scored 10 goals in 10 matches. However, they have scored three goals in their last two matches in a draw and a win.
Nice Comeback in New Digs
In their last match, Columbus played their inaugural one in their new stadium in Lower.com Field and had a solid comeback to secure a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution. They were down 2-0 after the 30th minute but came back and scored two goals with Gyasi Zardes scoring and Andrew Farrell getting credited on an own goal. The Crew dominated the time of possession (68% to 32%), had more shots (18-7), and more shots on target (7-4). The team had not tickled the twine in two matches before scoring two goals in the draw with New England.
Gyasi Zardes leads the crew with three goals, Lucas Zelarayán has three goals, and Pedro Santos is the only player with more than one assist with two of them. Columbus is shorthanded, as MF Kevin Molino and FW Derrick Etienne are out for international duty and Zardes and Santos are two of four players that are listed as questionable.
Early Scoring Barrage Does Not Last
In their last match, Cincy was on the road playing to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo where both goals were scored in the first five minutes. Houston scored in the third minute and Álvaro Barreal scored the lone goal for Cincinnati. The time of possession was nearly even, both teams had four shots on target, and Houston outshot FC, overall, 21-11. Two of Cincinnati’s wins have come in their last three matches and in that span their defense has been solid only conceding one goal.
Barreal leads FC with three goals and he has scored two of them in his last three matches. Luciano Acosta is the only other player with more than one goal with two of them and Rónald Matarrita leads the club with three assists. MF Allan Cruz is out due to international duty and FW Brandon Vazquez is listed as questionable.
Pick: Columbus +200
All three of Cincinnati’s wins this season have come at home and they are still looking for their first MLS win at home in their inaugural season in the league. They are near the bottom of the basement in the East but have played well as late and had won two in a row before playing to a draw in their last match. The FC defense had two straight clean sheets before giving up one goal in their last match. Columbus is winless in their last three matches and has played to a draw in their last two. While they have not been in top form as of late they did score two goals in their last match in a solid comeback. I think they have good road value in this match and in a defensive battle, they will come out on top and snap their winless streak.
Under 2.5 goals
I am leaning towards the Under in this one, as Cincy has had issues scoring all season but they have played solid defense in their last three matches only giving up one goal. Columbus scored two goals in their last match but I think they will only score one goal in this match. This Eastern Conference affair will be a very low scoring one with not many chances for either club. Cincy has an Under 2.5 goal record of 5-0 in their last five matches and look for that trend to continue, as this conference encounter will go Under as well.
