The Columbus Crew & Minnesota United managers C. Porter and A. Heath are both dreading and looking forward to this decisive game in the upper regions of the Major League Soccer league table.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Columbus and Minnesota United.
These teams have little in common geographically as Minnesota United have to travel 1200 kilometers to reach their opponents. The trip home will be especially long if the match ends in defeat.
Columbus Crew form and stats
Columbus Crew, who have the fewest conceded goals (4) in Major League Soccer, have been outstanding at home so far in the Major League Soccer with 6 wins, 0 draws and only 0 losses. After failing to beat Minnesota United here at MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus has put together a very nice winning streak on their own turf with four wins in a row.
Columbus's previous game was a Major League Soccer match also played at home, ending 2-0 versus Nashville SC (placed 9th). The home side are looking to build on that result. Before that, Columbus Crew played out a draw 2-2 when visiting Chicago Fire.
The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Columbus have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found ten games) they have won six times, drawn three and lost one.
The manager C. Porter will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Toronto in only four days.
With an average of more than two goals per home game in the league (12 in 6 games), Columbus Crew's attacking play is working. As for guarding their own goal, Columbus have only let in 0 goals at home.
Minnesota United form and stats
Playing away, Minnesota United, who have the most scored goals (23) in Major League Soccer, have won 3 games, drawn 3 and suffered 3 defeats in the Major League Soccer this season.
Minnesota are the visiting side once again, their previous game being the 2-2 draw at Houston Dynamo. Prior to that match, the Minnesota manager A. Heath faced defeat when travelling to Sporting KC and losing 0-1.
Drawing 2-2 against Houston Dynamo after 90 minutes last time out was very disappointing after leading the match 2-0. Their manager A. Heath needs to evaluate why the team couldn't defend their result. Dayne St Clair had red hot gloves after the game against Houston Dynamo, shaping the outcome of the game with eight saves made.
We have checked recent matches where Minnesota have had similar odds to win. Win-draw-lose statistics from those 14 games were five victories, four draws and five defeats.
After this away game Minnesota return home for a Major League Soccer game against Real Salt Lake. That game is only four sleeps after this.
The travelling fans enjoy Minnesota's attacking play in away games, having scored 15 goals in 9 league matches away. Minnesota have conceded 15 goals in these games.
Head 2 Head
The dueling parties have met before this season: Columbus Crew - Minnesota United 1-1. Head-to-head totals (for the last four meetings): Columbus won two games, one match ended with a draw and Minnesota United has one win. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: one / threeTop Goalscorers
  G. Zardes 10 goals |   R. Lod 6 goals |  K. Molino 6 goals |
Columbus Crew missing players
Minnesota United missing players
| Columbus Crew | Minnesota United | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 13 | 7 | 1 | Played | P | 1 | 12 | 15 |
| 8 | 6 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Lost | L | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 21 | 13 | 1 | Scored | S | 1 | 21 | 29 |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | Conceded | C | 3 | 20 | 24 |
| 92% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 92% | 93% |
| 62% | 71% | 0% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 83% | 87% |
| 31% | 29% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 100% | 75% | 80% |
| 15% | 0% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 100% | 58% | 60% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 17% | 20% |
| 23% | 14% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 75% | 73% |
| 69% | 86% | 100% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 8% | 13% |
| 15% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 25% | 20% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1.8 | 1.9 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 147 | 87 | 11 | Total Shots | T S | 15 | 162 | 205 |
| 48 | 26 | 2 | Shots on Target | S O | 2 | 57 | 71 |
| 44% | 50% | 50% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 50% | 37% | 41% |
- Columbus Crew has the fewest conceded goals (0) at home in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the fewest conceded goals (4) in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the fewest conceded goals in the second half (2) in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the most clean sheets (6) at home in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the most clean sheets (9) in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the most points (18) at home in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the the best goal difference (+12) at home in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew has the the best goal difference (+16) in Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew have not yet lost a game at home.
- Columbus Crew have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
- Columbus Crew have scored in all their home matches so far.
- Columbus Crew haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Minnesota United has the most matches over the total-line (10) in Major League Soccer
- Minnesota United has the most scored goals (23) in Major League Soccer
- Minnesota United has the most scored goals in the first half (14) in Major League Soccer
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Columbus Crew | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 27 |
| 2 | Orlando City | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 22 |
| 3 | Toronto | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 22 |
| 4 | Philadelphia Union | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 21 |
| 5 | New York City | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 16 |
| 7 | New England | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | -1 | 15 |
| 8 | New York RB | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -5 | 14 |
| 9 | Nashville SC | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -4 | 12 |
| 10 | Cincinnati | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 13 | -9 | 12 |
| 11 | Inter Miami | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 11 | -4 | 11 |
| 12 | Atlanta United | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -5 | 11 |
| 13 | DC United | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -6 | 11 |
| 14 | Chicago Fire | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | -10 | 9 |