All is left to play for between the Montreal Impact and the Columbus Crew in the conference semifinal round of the MLS Cup playoff.
Consider the proceedings to be virtually even after Montreal won 2-1 at home last Sunday.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Columbus Crew +100
Montreal Impact +220
Draw +250
Over/Under 2.5 (Over -135)
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Crew were great at home this year at 9-4-4, but the fact of the matter is that a draw just isn't good enough in this one. Not only are they going to have to win, but the way the Montreal offense is going, they might have to win by two or more to advance.
Columbus is an even money favorite to take the match in 90 minutes. A 1-0 result will see the hosts through, while a 2-1 result would send the match to extra time. If the Impact net two goals, Columbus will need to win by two to advance into the conference finals.
KEY INJURIES
Columbus might have lost the services of Cedrick for this match thanks to a calf injury. It's not the end of the world for the Crew, but they do have a couple other midfield options out already in Kristinn Steindorsson and Mohammed Saeid.
The Impact came out of last Sunday's match in fine shape on the injury front. Cameron Porter, Kenny Cooper and Andres Romero, all of which have been long-term absentees, are the only men not available for selection.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's a playoff game. The intensity is ramped up, the physicality is amped up, so it's not surprising that there were a little more fouls and yellow cards as well. We have to be ready for a war at home." – Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp on the chippy play in the first leg of this duel with Montreal
THE FIRST LEG
Didier Drogba didn't get his name on the scoring sheet on Sunday, but he played a fantastic match up front alongside Ignacio Piatti and Dominc Oduro. These three men were a hassle to the Columbus defense the entire night, and Patrice Bernier ended up being the beneficiary when he took an awesome Marco Donadel pass into space for the goal that canceled out Federico Higuain's opening salvo for the Crew.
Johan Venegas got the winner on a crucial defensive breakdown at the back for Columbus.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Crew have had a bit of a theme building up in recent weeks. They haven't been great defensively, and they've left poor Steve Clark in a lot of terrible spots in front of his goal. We're just not sure what Columbus is going to do in this one to try to win, but the bottom line is that it is going to have to score and score a bunch in all likelihood to make it into the Eastern Conference Finals.
Kei Kamara was really nowhere to be found in the first match, particularly in the second half when all of the momentum seemed to sway Montreal's way. He's too valuable of a scorer to be left on an island by himself up front. Higuain and others have to come out of the Crew midfield to be successful.
That said, we think the Impact are going to do enough in this one to advance. Offensively speaking, they're in fine form having now abused Toronto in consecutive games and Columbus to the tune of multiple goals in each outing. We're not sure that Montreal will again net two in this one, but we're sure it'll get one, and that one very well could be enough to finish the job.
Columbus 1, Montreal 1
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