New York Red Bulls (2-0-1) travel to face off against Columbus Crew (2-0-1) on Saturday, March 16th. This match will be played at Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH. Both club’s come into this one having won their previous match. The match starts at 7:30 PM ET.
New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew
New York Red Bulls Is Coming Off A Win
The New York Red Bulls will be looking to build off their 2-1 win over FC Dallas. This match took place on their home pitch, and they had a money line of -165, which was the highest on the three-way line. The three combined goals surpassed the over/under line of 2.5 goals.
Lewis Morgan and Emil Forsberg were the two offensive players that scored for the Red Bulls, with Forsberg also picking up the assist. Overall, New York took nine shots on goal and 18 shots overall. Despite taking four corners, the club had just two for the entire match.
Defensively, the Red Bulls allowed just two shots on goal and blocked four shots. Carlos Miguel made one save on the day, with the only goal for FC Dallas coming on a penalty kick. New York’s defenders intercepted eight passes and finished with four blocked shots.
Through three matches, the New York Red Bulls have a record of 2-0-1, putting them in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. After starting the season with a draw against Nashville SC, they have won two straight matches, including a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo. On the road, they are 1-0-1, and overall, they have the same number of points as the Columbus Crew, who they will be playing in this match. Following this match, they will return home to take on Inter Miami CF on Saturday, March 23rd.
Columbus Crew Is Coming Off A Win
The Columbus Crew will be looking to build off their 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire. This match took place on their home pitch, and they came in as the heavy favorite at -250. The three combined goals were just below the over/under line of 3.5 goals.
On offense, the Crew took a total of 18 shots and 10 shots on goal. They needed these two goals, as they didn’t convert on any of their six corner kick opportunities. Jacen Russell-Rowe and Mohamed Farsi were the two players to score, with Russell-Rowe taking two shots on goal.
As for the defense, the Crew allowed just one goal on the 11 total shots by the Fire. Patrick Schulte finished with one save on the three shots on goal he faced. The defense as a whole blocked four shots and intercepted nine passes.
Through three matches, the Columbus Crew have yet to lose, going 2-0-1, which has them in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. Both of their wins have come at home, including a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire FC on March 10th. Their only draw came on the road against Minnesota United FC. Next up, they’ll take on the New York Red Bulls, who are also 7 points on the season.
New York Red Bulls Offense Breakdown
The New York Red Bulls have been an average offensive team this season, ranking 14th in the MLS with 1.3 goals per match. They have been efficient with their shots, ranking fourth in the league with 6.3 shots on goal per match. Lewis Morgan is the team’s top scorer, ranking 19th in the MLS with two goals. He also leads the team in shots on goal, ranking 23rd in the league. Morgan also leads the team in assists, while Emil Forsberg is 54th in the league in that category.
Columbus Crew Offense Breakdown
The Columbus Crew’s offense has been solid this season, averaging 1.3 goals per match, which is 12th in the MLS. Cucho Hernández has been the team’s top scorer, finding the back of the net twice, which is 13th in the league. He also leads the team in shots on goal, with nine, which is tops in the MLS. Overall, the Crew are 2nd in the league in shots on goal, and 3rd in passing percentage.
New York Red Bulls Defense Breakdown
Despite being 20th in the MLS in fouls per match, the New York Red Bulls’ defense has been solid this season, allowing just 0.7 goals per match, which is 7th in the league. They will be facing a Columbus Crew offense that is 12th in the MLS in goals scored. Carlos Miguel has started three matches in goal for the Red Bulls, and he has one clean sheet, which is 16th in the league. Overall, the Red Bulls are 7th in blocked shots and 17th in interceptions.
Columbus Crew Defense Breakdown
When it comes to defending, the Columbus Crew have been one of the best in the MLS this season. They are currently 4th in goals allowed per match (0.7), and they are also 4th in blocked shots per match (4.3) and interceptions per match (11.7). However, they have been a bit too aggressive at times, as they are 18th in fouls per match (13.3). Patrick Schulte has started three matches in goal for the Crew, and he has just one clean sheet, which is 14th in the league.
New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew Prediction
Coming into this matchup, both the Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls are near the middle of the pack in terms of scoring offense. Our projections have this one ending in a 1-1 draw, with Cucho Hernandez being the top projected goal scorer for the Crew. Taking a look at the odds, we like the draw at +245.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
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Last updated:March 12, 2024 Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls