NYCFC to Grab a Vital Win

NYCFC v Columbus
Saturday 17 June, 2023, 13:30 ET
At Yankee Stadium

NYCFC hasn’t won in eight games, but that run of form could be about to come to an end and Nick Cushing’s team is the best pick for Saturday’s game.

Who do Bettors Favor?

According to the best bookmakers (and you can check out our top sportsbook reviews here) NYCFC is the favorite to win this one with bettors, though by a relatively small margin, considering that it is the home team. The New York team can be wagered at +123 while the draw is +250 and the visiting Columbus Crew is priced around +220.

NYCFC v Columbus
NYCFC	-122	-123	-120
Draw	+270	+250	+250
Columbus	+217	+216	+220

Home Form Priority for NYCFC

NYCFC's 2023 campaign has been a failure so far as the club currently sits in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, eight points outside of the playoffs.

After a sluggish start, the team's back-to-back victories at Yankee Stadium in April offered hope that things were turning around, but it turned out to be a false dawn. NYCFC has only earned three points in its last eight games, suffering five losses during that stretch, although it has at least managed to halt the defeats, with back-to-back goalless draws against New England and Real Salt Lake.

The source of the issue is clear to see. Nick Cushing’s team has now scored three goals in its last six games and has lost two out of three at home. If there is to be a NYCFC revival, fixing that Yankee Stadium form has to be a priority before the team loses touch with the playoffs.

High Scoring Columbus Hard to Predict

When it comes to entertainment, fans of Columbus Crew have it far better than those of NYCFC. Columbus has a record of 35 goals in 17 games, and that record is enough to tie for the most goals scored in MLS. Columbus presently sits in seventh position in the table but, despite its free-scoring style, only has the 11th-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference.

In fact, Columbus has given up 10 goals in its last five games, but has still managed to win three of them thanks to scoring 11 goals on the opposite end.

This high goal count makes the team hard to predict for bettors, at least on the surface. However, a closer examination of the team's form reveals that its road performances have typically lagged behind its overall results. In its eight away games thus far this season, Columbus has lost five, drawn one, and won just twice: against DC United and mediocre Chicago.

MLS Match Betting Head-to-Head

The head-to-head record between these teams is only eight years old because NYCFC joined MLS in 2015, but in that time, the two Eastern rivals have faced off 21 times.

Their first encounter, which took place in August 2015 and concluded in a 2-2 draw, served as a template for the subsequent 20 meetings, which have averaged 3.5 goals per game and have been evenly split between the two clubs.

With nine victories to NYCFC's eight, Columbus holds a tiny advantage, but over the past two seasons, both teams have won one game each. However, the record also demonstrates that Columbus has struggled in New York. NYCFC has won seven of the ten games played at Yankee Stadium, while Columbus has won only two.

MLS Match Betting Team News

Last week, both teams struggled with lengthy lists of absences, but the team news is looking a little better for both going into this matchup.

Maxime Chanot and Braian Cufre, two essential defensive players for NYCFC, were absent last week due to suspensions, but both are now available, although, Keaton Parks, who won't return until July, has joined Thiago Martins on the injury list as he continues his protracted rehabilitation from knee surgery.

Last weekend, Columbus had a long injury list and several players who were regarded as questionable, but things appear to be looking up for the Crew.

Josh Williams has recovered from his ankle injury and a number of players, including Eloy Room, Kevin Molino, and Alex Matan, who were rumored to be dealing with minor issues, all should be available for this trip to New York, although Milos Degenek, Will Sands, and Gustavo Vallecilla are still out.

MLS Match Betting Pick

Columbus should probably be a shorter price here based on league standing and results, but bookmakers are taking into account the team's unpredictable nature as well as its dismal road record, particularly when it comes to games at Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC doesn’t score many but is at least reliable in defense, and with Chanot and Cufre back, that defense will only get better. Given Columbus' propensity to allow goals, I think NYCFC looks like the best pick in the match-betting market ahead of this game.

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