United Visits Columbus for MLS tilt with Columbus Crew: Betting Analysis

After a humiliating loss in New York last weekend, the Columbus Crew returns home with little rest to take on D.C. United. The Crew are now in sixth place in the East, three points ahead of eight-place United. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday from Lower.com Field in Columbus and will be televised on ESPN+.

These teams have met more than 80 times in their MLS history, with United winning 37, Columbus 33, and 11 draws. They last met on May 8 at Historic Crew Stadium, with the hosts winning 3-1 as United scored two own goals. Lucas Zelarayan scored the opener in the 20th minute, and Ola Kamara scored late for Untied.

Crew Look to Bounce Back

Columbus suffered their worst loss of the season with a 4-1 setback at Yankee Stadium on Friday. The Black and Gold need to bounce back quickly and not let one loss turn into two. They got Liam Fraser, Derrick Etienne Jr., and Luis Diaz back from the Gold Cup, with the latter jumping straight into the starting lineup.

The big question for the Crew on Wednesday is if they will have the services of striker Gyasi Zardes. The USMNT forward played all 120 minutes in Sunday’s Gold Cup Final and enjoyed the celebrations with his teammates. He will be back in Columbus, but expecting much out of him on Wednesday is probably a stretch.

The Crew injury report for the game includes Artur (sports hernia), Perry Kitchen (knee), and Aidan Morris (knee) as out. Vito Wormgoor (thigh) and Josh Williams (ankle) are questionable. Artur had surgery last week and is expected to miss another 10-12 weeks, leaving a hole in the Crew midfield. Marlon Hairston has replaced Artur in the lineup and completed 98 percent of his passes at NYCFC.

The Pigeons held Zelarayan and Darlington Nagbe under wraps, with Pedro Santos sliding back into defense. With the Gold Cup players back, plus Bradley Wright-Phillips returning from injury, the Crew should be back to their normal attacking selves this week. After hosting D.C. United on Wednesday, they also welcome Atlanta United to Lower.com Field on Saturday.

United Struggle on Road

United play their second game in the state of Ohio in a four-day span after drawing 0-0 at FC Cincinnati on Saturday. They were outshot 12-9 in that game and held just 31% of this possession while completing less than 70% of their passes.

D.C. hasn’t won on the road since a 3-0 win at Inter Miami on May 29. Since then, they have three draws and two losses on the road, with only four goals scored in five games.

Kamara leads United with seven goals on the season, while Junior Moreno has three assists. Bill Hamid took over in goal at the end of May and has posted four wins and three draws in nine starts. He’s allowed seven goals in nine games, while the other two United keepers have allowed 11 goals this season in seven games.

Betting Analysis

• Columbus Crew: -120 Moneyline. -0.5 goals (-150)
• D.C. United: +360 Moneyline. +0.5 goals (-115)
• Draw: +255
• Total Goals: 2.5. Over +115, Under -140
• First Goal: Columbus -165. D.C. United +180. No Goals +800

There should be goals in this game. Eloy Room was uncharacteristically sloppy in New York and will look to make amends against United. Look for Columbus to open things up as they get a lift from the home crowd and also from their returning Gold Cup competitors. With the season nearing the halfway point, it is time for the defending champions to turn up the intensity if they are going to retain their crown.