Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew – Match Preview

The new season of Major League Soccer kicks off with Toronto FC welcoming Columbus Crew at BMO Field. The match is on Tuesday, September 18th, at 23:30 GMT. Toronto FC finds itself in the 17th spot after 29 matches. Columbus Crew, on the other hand, sits comfortably in 4th place with two games in hand. This match promises to add excitement to the league’s opening round. Toronto aims to climb the standings, while Columbus seeks to strengthen their top-six position. The result will be crucial for both teams’ seasons.

Toronto FC – Form

Toronto FC comes into this game with varied results from their last three matches. They beat Austin FC 2:1 at home on September 14th, meeting bookmakers’ expectations. Before that, they won 1:0 against Houston Dynamo FC away, thanks to Prince Osei Owusu’s goal. However, they faced a 4:3 defeat to Inter Miami CF in the Leagues Cup, a result predicted by oddsmakers.

Columbus Crew – Form

Columbus Crew has shown resilience and tactical skill in their recent matches. They drew 0:0 with FC Cincinnati away on September 14th, as expected by bookmakers. Before this, they achieved a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union, with Yaw Yeboah scoring the only goal. They also enjoyed a 4-2 victory against New York City FC at home, maintaining their scoring streak.

Toronto FC – Columbus Crew – Head to Head

The last encounter between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew was on July 6th, 2024. The Crew secured a 4:0 win at home. In their past 10 meetings, Toronto FC won 3 times, and Columbus Crew triumphed 5 times. This gives the Crew a slight advantage in their head-to-head record. In the last 5 matches, both teams scored in 3 games. Toronto FC has found it challenging recently, losing 5 of their last 6 matches against Columbus Crew. They have also struggled to win in their last 6 meetings, often scoring less than 1.5 goals and conceding in 10 of the last 12 games.

Toronto FC – Columbus Crew – Standings

With the game at BMO Field approaching, the standings highlight the differing fortunes of Toronto FC and Columbus Crew. Toronto FC is in 17th place with 36 points from 29 matches. This is below their pre-season expectations. Columbus Crew, in contrast, is in 4th place with 50 points from 27 games. They are meeting their pre-season goal of finishing in the top 6. The 14-point gap between the teams emphasizes Toronto FC’s need for improvement.

Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew – Top scorers

Toronto FC’s attack is led by Federico Bernardeschi with 8 goals. Prince Osei Owusu follows with 7 goals. Lorenzo Insigne has also contributed 4 goals. Deandre Kerr and Derrick Etienne have each added 3 goals. Columbus Crew’s top scorer is Juan Hernandez with 13 goals. Diego Rossi has contributed 10 goals. Christian Ramirez has added 7 goals. Jacen Russell-Rowe and Max Arfsten have each scored 4 goals, enhancing their team’s attack.

Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers favor an away win for Columbus Crew at 1.95. A home win for Toronto FC is at 3.20, and a draw is at 3.80. Columbus Crew’s recent form and head-to-head record make them the favorites, despite playing away. The “halftime-fulltime” option and “draw-no-bet” market offer interesting odds for bettors. The “double-chance” market is appealing for those who believe Toronto FC might secure a point or win.

Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew – Over/Under Betting

This match presents interesting Over/Under options for bettors. Toronto FC averages 1.31 goals per game and concedes 1.76. Columbus Crew has a stronger record, scoring 1.93 and conceding 1.04 per match. The “Under 3.5” odds at 1.57 align with the trend of fewer goals in past meetings. However, the “Over 2.5” at 1.53 could attract those expecting a high-scoring game. Predicting the exact number of goals is challenging, making this market appealing for value seekers.

Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew – BTTS Betting

The odds for BTTS are 1.50 for “Yes” and 2.50 for “No”. In their last 10 head-to-head matches, both teams scored in 3 games. Toronto FC’s recent home games and Columbus Crew’s away fixtures suggest that “BTTS: Yes” at 1.50 is a likely outcome. This is based on both teams’ current form and defensive records.

Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew – Prediction