.jpg "Toronto-FC-vs.-Columbus-(FS1)")
This whole season for Toronto FC was about redemption. The team lost the MLS Cup on penalties last year at home to Seattle, and it has spent this year figuring out how to get back to the top of the mountain. The Reds are 90 minutes away from hosting the MLS Cup for the second straight season, but they're going to have a war on their hands to get rid of the Columbus Crew after a gritty, scoreless draw last week in Ohio.
This MLS duel will go down Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at 7:20 p.m. ET at BMO Field. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Toronto FC -155
Columbus Crew +425
Draw +280
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
After a first leg draw in Columbus, Toronto is a heavy favorite to get through to the MLS Cup again. The Reds are -155 favorites to win this match in regulation and are -250 favorites to win this home-and-home series.
With 90 scoreless minutes already in the books, it's going to be hard to bet on the over at a price of 2.5. That said, if the Crew happen to score a goal, Toronto FC is going to have to strike twice if it wants to reach the MLS Cup Final. Otherwise, it's going to be Seattle who likely earns the right to host the MLS Cup against Columbus.
The First Leg
Before we get too caught up in the fact that TFC was held to a scoreless draw in the first match, let's remember that this was largely always the strategy. Both Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore were suspended for this match, and the team knew that both would be coming back for this second leg at home.
The Reds didn't put a single ball on net against Zack Steffen in the first leg, and they were largely fortunate to get out of town with a scoreless draw instead of being behind by a goal, or even two.
Wil Trapp and Ola Kamara both had fantastic chances while Federico Higuain had the chance of all chances in the dying minutes and couldn't get a ball through a mad goalmouth scramble. Had his strike found its way through the Toronto defense, we'd be talking about a 1-0 lead for the Crew instead of a 0-0 score.
To his credit, Alex Bono had a great match with three saves, and Michael Bradley did his part with a strong game in the middle of the TFC defense.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
We predicted a nervy game every step of the way in the first leg of this matchup, and that's exactly what we got. Columbus had its chances, and it probably should have ultimately put one or two home, but it didn't, and now, it's going to pay the price for that.
The Reds went 13-3-1 this year at home, and there's little chance that they're going to cough up this de facto advantage they picked up from the first leg. The argument could be made that Toronto could have put this tie away early on with a couple glorious chances, even playing without its two best offensive weapons.
Now that the whole band is back together and well-rested, it's going to be really hard for the Crew. They've had a magical run to this point, and though they imagined bringing back the MLS Cup to MAPFRE Stadium in hopes that the team doesn't move to Austin after this season, we just don't think that's going to happen. This TFC team is too good and too focused to ultimately collapse at this point.
MLS Odds: Toronto FC 2, Columbus 0
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