Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Columbus Crew are on course to claim a place in the play-offs this season and could make it three wins on the trot as they face Houston Dynamo in the MLS on Sunday. The visitors form has been very poor and Houston now sit third from bottom in the Western Conference, but could move back into the top seven with a win this weekend.

Columbus Crew have had their poor spells this season, but on the balance of play they have to be happy with their current positioning of fourth in the Eastern Conference. There is work to be done if Sunday’s hosts hope to challenge for a top three finish, as any more poor spells will rule Columbus Crew out of the running.

Late last month Columbus Crew overcame the odds to beat New York RB 3-2 in their own backyard, but the hosts almost snatched a draw. A seventh minute strike from Mensah thrust the visitors into an early lead in New York, and that advantage was doubled in the twenty-fourth minute through Mullins. The hosts and their fans did not know what to do when Davis put the ball in the back of his own net in the thirty-first minute to make the half time score 3-0 to Columbus Crew. Wright-Phillips and Romero both came on at half time as Red Bulls went in search of a goal that would bring them back into this match, but it was an own goal from Columbus Crew defender Mensah that made the scoreline 3-1 just five minutes after the restart. The hosts scored again through Royer to set up an exciting final twenty minutes to the match, but everything New York RB threw at their opponents, Columbus Crew defended in manfully to hold on for a priceless victory.

If in doubt get the ball to Zardes, appears to be the common theme when Columbus Crew play, as the striker has netted thirteen times in the league alone this season which makes him one of the leagues most deadly front men. Higuaín has been an influence on the side both creatively and in front of goal and will be missed this weekend if he is indeed ruled out through injury, as the Argentine has five assists and four goals to his name.

Houston Dynamo appeared to have turned a corner in May when they secured three wins and a draw on the run, but the Texans soon returned to their inconsistent best and remain lingering in the bottom half of the Western Conference with twenty-seven points from twenty-two matches.

Houston had not one, not two, but three players sent-off when they were at home to Sporting KC last weekend, and needless to say, that game ended in defeat. There were just fourteen minutes on the clock when defender Fuenmayor was shown a straight red card, in what was a poorly disciplined performance by the hosts. Second half substitute Rubio scored the games only goal in the seventy-fourth minute to hand Sporting KC a much needed victory, but there was worse to follow for Houston. In stoppage time both Cerén and Elis were shown red cards in separate incidents which left the hosts with just eight men on the pitch by the time the referees whistle blew.

Manotas carries a threat for Houston having scored eleven goals in the MLS this season, but the visitors will miss the suspended Elis who has scored nine goals and provided seven assists so far this season. Quioto is the main creative force in midfield with eight assists to his name and will still cause problems for the Columbus Crew defence with his through balls and deliveries from set pieces.

We’re confident that Columbus Crew will win on Sunday as they have won four of their last six matches and Houston have lost their last three. The visitors are without a few players through injury and now three through suspension and that will surely go against them away from home. In terms of a final score, we’re backing Columbus Crew to win 3-1 and for the game to be fairly comfortable for the hosts.