New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew Bet Builder Stats & Predictions
New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew
Kick Off: Sunday 3rd November, 21:30
Competition: MLS
Watch Live: Apple TV
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The MLS Cup Playoffs continue over the weekend with the undoubted pick of the matches being the one from Red Bull Arena, where Columbus Crew look to keep their title defence alive when they take on New York Red Bulls. After winning the opening game of the series, Red Bulls head home looking to finish the tie in two straight matches and after an off the ball masterclass in game one, they will feel confident of their chances.
Columbus Crew are arguably the hardest team in MLS to play against, let alone doing it twice in quick succession. The champions won’t go down without a fight and are likely to have a plan up their sleeve for a clash which is do or die for them.
Match stats: Champions to avoid defeat with both teams scoring
After their win in the opening game of the best-of-three match series, New York Red Bulls are favourites to get the job done in game two on home soil, but Columbus Crew are unlikely to give up their title without a real fight. The opening match last week saw the Red Bulls stifle the Crew offensive output but with the champions without Diego Rossi in the opener, they are likely to be much more on it should the attacker be back in the side.
It is one thing pressing the Crew hard in one game but to do it twice inside five days is going to be a very tough ask, such is the fluidity that Columbus play with. While this is the best chance for the Red Bulls to win the series, in that if they lose this tie they will be going back to Columbus for game three, the Crew have the smartest coach in MLS and it would be a huge surprise if Wilfried Nancy hasn’t been in the film room with a fine comb to identify where his side can hurt the Red Bulls.
Columbus know they can go to Red Bull Arena and win because they did it on Decision Day and the expectation is that they will force this tie at least to penalties if they don’t win it in 90 minutes. This match also looks ripe for both teams to score because the first goal in the game is going to completely change the dynamic for the other.
If NYRB score first the Crew have to score else their title defence is over. If Columbus score first they become huge favourites for the tie and NYRB will need to push to level the game. The visitors can avoid defeat in a match both teams score here.
Predictions:
Columbus/Draw double chance @1.62
BTTS @1.50
Shot stats: Key men on either side to rain in the shots
The good thing about forming a bet builder on this second game is that we have two recent matches to fall back on between the two sides, one at each home ground, and there is a consistency in the shots tallies.
If we begin with the Columbus Crew the obvious target is their talisman Cucho Hernandez, a man who had six shots in the playoff game on Tuesday night, fresh from five in the Decision Day clash between the two at Red Bull Arena.
No player in MLS has had more shots per 90 minutes than Cucho, he averages 5.7 per 90 minutes and with the Crew in the mess they are in going into game two of the tie, you’ve got to think they will utilise their main man for shot output regularly here.
Cucho to have over 3.5 shots in the match is a short price but with him being on most set plays in and around the box and high up the pitch in open play, it would be a surprise if he doesn’t get four shots away here. Looking at the other side, Lewis Morgan is the go to man for the Red Bulls and he averages 3.5 shots per 90 minutes, he has had four shots in the two recent matches between this pair.
His pace against a high Columbus defensive line is clearly a recipe that Sandro Schwarz likes to utilise and if the Red Bulls sit deep, they will rely on their attacker on the counter. The stats suggest he can have over 3.5 shots here. Back the key men on both teams to get plenty of shots away.
Predictions:
Cucho Hernandez Over 3.5 shots @1.36
Lewis Morgan Over 3.5 shots @1.67
Card stats: Cards are expected in a potentially feisty affair
With the season on the line for the Columbus Crew and the New York Red Bulls having their best chance to win the series, this match automatically has a feel of one which could get quite lively. In recent matches between these two, we have seen four cards and three cards with both sides getting a card on each occasion.
With the game state of this one surely seeing some time wasting being employed and that riling up the opposition team, it will not need too much for the referee to pull out a card for both teams. That might just be safer than over 2.5 cards at the same price although it would be a surprise if both don’t land.
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In terms of who could pick up the cards, while Max Arfsten has been booked in both matches these two have played recently, there is a chance Nancy employs Dejuan Jones in his position here so it might pay to side with Red Bulls defender Noah Eile to pick up a booking.
He arrived on the pitch with two minutes left of the first tie and still found his way into the book so a longer time in action here would give him every chance of a discretion. That was the seventh card of the season for the Swede, he has had a red in that time too and feels like a leading player when it comes to finding his way in the notebook.
Predictions:
Both teams to receive a card @1.28
Noah Eile to be shown a card @4.00
By: @AndysBetClubUK
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Emilee Chinn / Getty Images
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