Columbus Crew vs Colorado Rapids Predictions

Defeat for Columbus Crew in midweek means Philadelphia Union are now just a point behind them in the Eastern Conference table, which puts more pressure on Columbus on Sunday at home against struggling Colorado Rapids. The visitors lost their fourth straight game last weekend and remain second from bottom in the Western Conference, but they do have a good record against this particular opponent which should give Colorado rapids hope of ending their losing streak.

Portland Timbers saw less of the ball and created fewer scoring opportunities at home to Columbus Crew on Thursday, but still managed to pinch all three points. A seventh minute strike from Hansen got Columbus Crew off to the perfect start, but the hosts hit back in the eighteenth minute through Guzmán and were in front shortly before the break thanks to a goal from Polo.

The next goal was always going to be crucial in a match like this and when Abubakar put through his own goal to make it 3-1 to the hosts, the writing was on the wall for Columbus Crew despite their overall domination of the match. Hansen did managed to score his second goal of the game in stoppage time, but there just wasn’t enough time remaining for the visitors to find an equalising goal.

Columbus Crew had 53% of the overall possession against Portland Timbers and had eight shots on target to the hosts four, but it was their finishing that cost them at the end of the day not to mention some disappointing defending. With fifteen goals in the league this season Zardes has been key to Columbus Crew’s play-off push and the American will fancy his chances of adding to that total against a leaky Colorado defence this Sunday.

For a fourth straight match Colorado Rapids failed to score and lost in the MLS, with the most recent team to beat them high flying Atlanta United last weekend. Almirón scored twice in the opening eighteen minutes to thrust the visitors into a commanding lead, and when Villalba added a third before the break there was no way back for the hosts.

No further goals were scored in the second half, despite Martinez playing the majority of the match for Atlanta, and Colorado Rapids must take some positives from that second forty-five performance and apply those same elements to Sunday’s trip to Columbus. The visitors are struggling in front of goal following the sale of top scorer Badji to Dallas, as the Senegalese striker remains the clubs top scorer this season with seven goals and none of his former teammates and even close to challenging his tally yet.

We’re confident that Columbus Crew will continue Colorado Rapids losing streak this weekend and keep a clean sheet against their misfiring guests in the process, with the final score reading 2-0 to the hosts. Colorado Rapids have failed to score in their last four MLS games, while Columbus Crew have kept two clean sheets in their last six matches. Colorado Rapids have lost their last four games and the visitors have only picked up six points away from home this season.