Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
This year probably hasn’t gone exactly as New York Red Bulls would have liked. They are far from matching their stunning performances from last season, which saw them top the league two points above Atlanta United FC. However, their year has been a picnic compared to what Columbus Crew SC have been going through.
The good news is that the struggling team did actually win their last match. Columbus bested Montreal Impact 2-1 – a game they desperately needed for both points and morale. That’s because that game represented their first victory of the season in nearly a dozen games and over two months. It has been an absolutely brutal summer for the team and they will be hoping to properly break free of their rut by coming out victorious here.
New York Red Bulls have, as we’ve said, not matched last year’s form, producing seesaw like results. We suppose then, anything is possible.
New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew SC Prediction: NY Red Bulls 2-1 Columbus
However, while a win for Columbus Crew SC is certainly possible, it doesn’t seem like the most likely outcome. A New York Red Bulls team not firing on all cylinders is still a force to be reckoned with. And one victory simply doesn’t mean that all of Columbus Crew’s problems are behind them. Nonetheless, they’ll no doubt be pushing hard for another victory and to avoid heading back to the depths of despair they found themselves in weeks ago. With that in mind, our scoreline prediction is a 1-0 win for New York Red Bulls in a tough match.
Our recommended tip: New York Red Bulls win
The home side hold the clear advantage in this MLS clash in the eyes of the bookmakers. At Coral, New York Red Bulls have low-risk 4/6 match odds. Meanwhile, fans of Columbus Crew SC will have to settle for higher risk 18/5 odds on a victory. As we mentioned, this is down to the Red Bulls performing better on the pitch recently, winning two of their last five matches compared to their opponent’s single victory in five games. Therefore, for your best chance of winning your wager, we recommend that you back the favourites on this one.
Previous matches
Further cementing our belief that this will be a close one, despite the home team being clear favourites, is their head-to-head history. Their last game in March went to a 1-1 draw. They also traded wins and losses throughout 2018, with Colombus just about coming out on top with two victories to New York’s single win. However, that does represent the last definitive result for either side in this fixture. So, we’re going to have to call it a stalemate in terms of historical momentum. They also got a win apiece in 2017. This back-and-forth dynamic has been going on for years.
Top 3 MLS Bookies
Players to watch: Daniel Royer & David Accam
New York Red Bulls: Daniel Royer
Every single time that Daniel Royer has hit the back of the net this season – which comes out at six overall – New York Red Bulls have gone on to be victorious. If that doesn’t make him one of the most dangerous people on the pitch, we’re not sure what does. Not only that but he is three-for-three when it comes to league home matches. If Columbus Crew want to come away with the upset, they’ll need to keep a close eye on Royer, and so should you.
Columbus Crew: David Accam
If we’re predicting the most likely goalscorers, then the candidate for player to watch would be Gyasi Zardes. There is no one on the squad who has come close to matching his ability to pull the trigger and get goals. However, he didn’t end the drought for Columbus Crew with the winning goal over Montreal Impact. David Accam did. Not only that but we feel like we’ve only just begun to see what he can achieve this season.
