On Saturday, August 24th, the Columbus Crew will travel to Subaru Park in Chester, PA, to take on the Philadelphia Union. This MLS match is set to start at 7:30 PM. The Crew are +132 on the money line compared to the Union at +175. The line for a draw is sitting at +275, and the over/under goal line is 3.5 goals. Columbus is 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-4-7, while Philadelphia is 10th in the conference and has won two straight games. The payout for an over goal line is +123, and the under goal line is -180.
Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Columbus Crew at Philadelphia Union
- Where: Chester, PA at Subaru Park
- Date: Saturday, August 24th
- Betting Odds CLB +132 | PHI +175 O/U 3.5
Columbus Crew Preview
The Columbus Crew are in their 24th match of the season, sitting in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. Overall, they are 12-4-7, and they have been strong on the road, going 6-3-3. Over their last seven matches, they have gone 5-1-1, with their only loss coming on the road against Atlanta United FC. Following this match, they will return home to take on New York City FC on August 31st.
So far this season, Columbus has been one of the most efficient teams in MLS, as they are second in the league in goals per match at 2.0. They are also eighth in shots on goal per match, and they have had more corners than their opponents in 56.5% of their matches. Cucho Hernández is the top scorer for the Crew, as he is sixth in MLS with 13 goals. He has also had the most shots on goal for Columbus this season, and he is 12th in the league in that category.
Heading into their match against the Philadelphia Union, the Columbus Crew's defense is ranked 1st in the MLS, allowing just 1.0 goal per match. However, they are coming off a match against Atlanta United FC, who is 19th in scoring, where they gave up two goals. Overall, they have seven clean sheets this season, which is 3rd in the MLS. Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte is 23rd in saves this season with 52.
Philadelphia Union Preview
The Philadelphia Union are looking to extend their winning streak to three matches as they take on the Columbus Crew at home. So far this season, the Union have struggled to find consistency, going 6-10-9 and sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Over their last six matches, they have gone 2-3-1, with their two wins coming in their last two matches. Following this match, they will hit the road to take on the New York Red Bulls on August 31st.
The Philadelphia Union have been one of the more dangerous offensive teams in MLS this season, ranking 8th in goals scored and 7th in shots on goal. Dániel Gazdag has been their top scorer, finding the back of the net 14 times, which is 4th in the league. He also leads the team in shots on goal. Kai Wagner has been their top playmaker, as his 7 assists are 14th in MLS. He has also scored a goal this season. Overall, the Union have had more corners than their opponents in just over half of their matches this season.
After giving up four goals to the Chicago Fire FC on July 4th, the Philadelphia Union defense has been better of late, including a shutout against Nashville SC on July 20th. However, the competition has not been great, as they have faced three of the bottom seven scoring offenses in their last seven matches. Overall, they are 21st in goals allowed this season. Oliver Semmle is 25th in MLS with three clean sheets.
Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union Head To Head
The Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew faced off twice last season, with Philadelphia taking the series 1-0-1. In the first matchup, Philadelphia shut out Columbus, winning 4-0. The second matchup ended in a 1-1 draw, despite Columbus having nine shots on goal compared to just two for Philadelphia.
Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union Free Pick
Looking at how this Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union matchup sets up, we are going to take the Crew on the money line at +132. Coming in, Columbus is one of the top offensive teams in the MLS and they are also one of the best at preventing goals. Our prediction is that the Crew will win this match by a score of 2-1, with Cucho Hernandez being our top projected goal scorer for Columbus. On the other side, look for Alejandro Bedoya to find the net for Philadelphia.
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Pick: Columbus Crew +132
