When the Columbus Crew left for Atlanta for the first round of the MLS playoffs, they didn't know if they were ever going to get a chance to come back to MAPFRE Stadium. Alas, after upsetting the best expansion team in MLS history, the Crew are going to get at least one more home game before their presumptive move to Austin becomes official. New York City FC is going to be in for a war in its first match of the conference semifinals.
Don't miss the MLS action from MAPFRE Stadium on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX Sports 1.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Columbus Crew
New York City FC
Draw
Over/Under
Odds Analysis
The Crew were massive underdogs in Atlanta all the way up to the point that Zack Steffen saved the first shot in the penalty shootout. Atlanta United was expected to advance on a night that a crowd of over 67,000 was buzzing about its team's first shot at the MLS Cup.
Now, the shoe is about to be on the opposite foot. The Crew are back at home in a stadium that is notorious for being one of the toughest to play in for any visitor. Columbus' playoff record at home hasn't exactly been sterling, but that isn't going to stop the oddsmakers from making it a favorite in this match in spite of the fact that NYCFC will clearly be the favorite to ultimately advance from this home-and-home series.
How They Got Here
Patrick Vieira continues to do a fantastic job coaching up New York City FC. The Sky Blues have a veteran roster, one chock full of big time stars at the ends of their careers, but that hasn't always worked in this league. It takes a special manager to keep all those egos in check, and Vieira has done just that and then some to keep NYCFC at the top of its game.
Steffen was absolutely the Man of the Match in Atlanta on Thursday night. The Crew goalie was superb in the penalty shootout, stopping three of the four shots that he faced to lead his team to victory. This came on the heels of stopping several efforts from various Atlanta attackers.
Did Columbus get lucky? Sure. Atlanta U hit its share of posts in this match, though the Crew were probably unluckiest when a header in the 118th minute was cleared off the line that had beaten Brad Guzan.
The Crew had a great game plan in Atlanta and were able to squeak out that away victory in one of the bigger upsets we've seen in the MLS Cup Playoffs in quite some time.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This Columbus team is just full of drama of late. The Crew came back from down 2-1 on Decision Day to pick up a draw against New York City FC in the Bronx, a match that would have been lost if not for Steffen being the best player on the pitch aside from one dud of a moment against a tricky David Villa shot.
Villa was a one-man wrecking crew in that match, and he's going to have to be again in this one.
The Crew were uncharacteristically slow in the center of the pitch against Atlanta United, but here at home, we suspect we're about to see a far more open match.
City will try its best to slow this one down, but we see Columbus running roughshod. A two-goal victory won't necessarily leave this home-and-home tie decided, but it'll put the Crew in a healthy position for sure.
MLS Odds: Columbus 3, New York City FC 1
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