The first leg of the Eastern Conference Finals couldn't have gone any worse for the New York Red Bulls. They were beaten 2-0 and had to leave MAPFRE Stadium without a crucial away goal, and that could force them to come up with their match of the year against the Columbus Crew if they want to reach the MLS Cup next weekend.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
New York Red Bulls -154
Columbus Crew +421 Draw +313
Over/Under 3 (over +107)
ODDS ANALYSIS
On the surface, it looks like the Red Bulls will need a miracle to get out of this match. No team has ever overturned a two-goal deficit after 90 minutes in the MLS Cup playoffs, and a 2-0 deficit is the hardest to get past. If the Crew score just once, something they've done in all of their playoff games to date, New York will need to win by three goals to advance. A 2-0 result would force extra time, while any one goal win, draw or loss would put Columbus into the MLS Cup.
New York would host the MLS Cup if it advanced. Columbus would either host Portland or visit FC Dallas.
The Red Bulls, who were so darn good at home all season long, are set at -154 on the moneyline and at -1 on the Asian Handicap. They'll need to cover that to have any hope of advancing.
Knowing that goals could be aplenty, the total is set at a lofty 3 with vig of -127 on the under.
KEY INJURIES
Injuries aren't the issue for either of these teams. Kristinn Steidorsson is the only man on the injury list for the Crew, while New York is without Chris Duvall and Damien Perrinelle, neither of which were pivotal in the team's success this year.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I thought we were a little bit too passive at times in the second half and we were urging our players to keep going, making those runs, because we knew we'd be able to catch them." – Columbus manager Gregg Berhalter on the importance of the second goal at MAPFRE Stadium in the opening leg of the Eastern Conference Finals
THE FIRST MEETING
We knew there were going to be a lot of goals in this home and home series, but the fact that it took a total of just nine seconds to open the scoring ledger was a shock. Justin Meram took just the fourth boot of the game to the back of the net to send MAPFRE Stadium into delirium, and it really only got worse from there for the Red Bulls.
New York, typically an attacking side, really showed nothing but going forward all night long. Bradley Wright-Phillips was an afterthought as he largely has been the entire postseason outside of his 90th minute clincher against D.C. United which was more a case of good timing and good fortune than good play.
It was Kei Kamara who scrambled a rebound into the back of the net in the 85th to complete the effort for the Crew and put them on the verge of the MLS Cup.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
New York isn't out of this yet. The team has scored at least two goals 12 times in 17 home matches this season, and it has posted seven shutouts in that same span. Columbus has given up at least two goals in its 18 away fixtures, but it has scored in 12 of the 18.
If the Crew can get on the board early again in this one, the scoring is going to open up fast and furious.
We love the over in this game, as we think the end result is going to be a crazy one. However, be very aware of the fact that New York could reasonably give up on this game and settle back into showing a lack of creativity if the Crew are in, say a 1-1 match at the break.
New York 3, Columbus 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The fixture between the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew is scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
