On Wednesday, September 18th, the Columbus Crew will travel to take on Toronto at BMO Field in Toronto, ON. This match is set to start at 7:30 PM. The money line odds for this match are currently sitting at -105 for the Crew, +235 for Toronto, and +285 for a draw. The over/under goal line is sitting at 3.5 goals. Columbus is 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-5-8, while Toronto is 8th in the conference at 11-15-3.
Columbus Crew vs. Toronto Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Columbus Crew at Toronto
- Where: Toronto, ON at BMO Field
- Date: Wednesday, September 18th
- Betting Odds CLB -105 | TOR +235 O/U 3.5
Columbus Crew Preview
As the Columbus Crew head to Toronto for their 28th match of the season, they are looking to improve upon their 14-5-8 record. Overall, they are in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, trailing FC Cincinnati by two points. On the road, Columbus has been solid, going 7-3-4, while they are 7-2-4 at home. Over their last seven matches, the Crew have gone 3-2-2, including a 4-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on September 7th. Following this match, Columbus will return home to take on Orlando City SC on September 21st.
The Columbus Crew have been one of the most efficient teams in MLS this season, ranking 4th in goals per match. They have been able to generate a good amount of shots on goal, but their corner kick numbers are in the middle of the pack. They have had more corner kicks than their opponents in 55.6% of their matches. Cucho Hernández has been their top scorer this season, ranking 12th in MLS in goals scored. He also leads the team in shots on goal. Diego Rossi is their leader in assists and is 2nd on the team in goals scored.
Heading into their match against Toronto, the Columbus Crew defense is currently the best in the MLS, allowing just 0.9 goals per match. However, they have given up at least two goals in three of their last seven matches. They have also struggled against some of the better offenses in the league, giving up two goals to both New York City FC and Atlanta United FC. Keeper Patrick Schulte is third in the MLS with nine clean sheets, but his 61 saves are just 22nd in the league.
Toronto Preview
Through 29 matches, Toronto has a record of 11-15-3, putting them in 8th place in the Eastern Conference. At home, they are 7-7-0, and overall, they have gone 4-3 in their last seven matches. In their most recent match, they defeated Austin FC by a score of 2-1. After this match vs. Columbus, they will head on the road to take on Colorado Rapids SC on Sunday, September 22nd. In the standings, they are two points behind Charlotte FC and two points ahead of FC Dallas.
So far this season, Toronto has been averaging 1.2 goals per match, which is 24th in MLS. Federico Bernardeschi has been their top scorer, finding the back of the net eight times, which is 39th in the league. He also leads the team in shots on goal, with 31. Overall, Toronto has taken fewer shots on goal than their season average in four straight matches. They are 27th in MLS in corners and have had fewer corners than their opponent in 58.6% of their matches this season. Their passing percentage of 84.5% is 9th in the league.
Toronto's defense is currently 23rd in MLS, allowing 1.8 goals per match. However, they have given up just four goals over their last three matches, including a clean sheet against Houston Dynamo. Sean Johnson is 12th in MLS with six clean sheets this season. Overall, Toronto's defense is 21st in blocked shots and 18th in interceptions and fouls. They will be facing a Columbus Crew offense that is 4th in scoring.
Columbus Crew vs. Toronto Head To Head
The Columbus Crew and Toronto FC will face off for the second time this season. In their first matchup, Columbus came away with a 4-0 win, recording six shots on goal compared to just two for Toronto.
Columbus Crew vs Toronto Free Pick
With the Columbus Crew coming in as the top defense in the MLS, we like them to pull out the win on the road against Toronto. The money line for the Crew is at -105, and we have them winning by a score of 2-1. Coming into the match, Columbus is 4th in goals scored and 2nd in shooting percentage. Our projections have Cucho Hernandez as the top goal scorer for the match overall, while Lorenzo Insigne has the best chance to score for Toronto.
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Pick: Columbus Crew -105
