Last Updated on November 20, 2023 1:15 pm by Erwin Noguera
The Eastern Conference will have one of its most interesting matches in the semifinals, when Orlando City and Columbus Crew, two of the best teams in the regular phase of U.S. soccer, meet.
Orlando proved its level and eliminated Nashville in the previous round, winning two matches by 1-0.
Columbus needed three games to get past Atlanta United. They won the first 2-0, lost the second 4-2, and triumphed in the third 4-2.
When:
Saturday, November 25, 5:30 p.m. ET at the Exploria Stadium
Moneyline odds:
Orlando City +125
Columbus Crew +205
Draw Offs:
+270
Where Can I Watch?
Why Bet on Orlando City?
Orlando City was the second-best team in the MLS regular season. Its 63 points in 34 games are remarkable, based on 18 wins, 9 draws, and only 7 losses, the second-lowest number of the entire championship.
In the previous round, they defeated Nashville 1-0 in both matches, with Peruvian Wilder Cartagena and Colombian Iván Angulo scoring the goals, respectively.
The team coached by Óscar Pareja is very consistent in their play. They are not the best offensively or defensively, but in both areas, they are among the best.
Their most important player is the Uruguayan Facundo Torres, who has 14 goals and 5 assists this season. Duncan McGuire’s 13 goals are also worth mentioning.
Another aspect to mention about the Florida team is that they have six wins in a row. The last time they gave up points was on September 24 against Inter Miami, and they have not lost since September 20, losing 2-0 to New York City.
Currently, only offensive midfielder Favian Loyola is out, while Felipe Martins and Ramiro Enrique are suspended.
Why Bet on Columbus Crew?
If Orlando City was the second-best team in the MLS regular season, Columbus Crew was the third, with 57 points, 16 wins, 9 draws, and 9 defeats.
In the previous round, they eliminated Atlanta United, winning two of the three matches they played. The last meeting ended 4-2, and Columbus celebrated with goals from Darlington Nagbe, Malte Amundsen, Alexandru Matan, and Diego Rossi.
The highlight of this club is the offense. Their 67 goals are the best mark in all of MLS in the first instance, and the Colombian Juan Camilo ‘El Cucho’ Hernandez was their great card.
He has 19 goals in 30 games, including 3 in the series against Atlanta. In addition, he has distributed a total of 12 assists. The second-best scorer is Christian Ramirez with 8.
The Crew are on a hot streak in MLS, losing only two of their last ten matches. But one of those defeats was to their opponents in the conference semifinals by 4-3.
For now, coach Wilfried Nancy is counting on all his players for the match, although he has one eye on Colombian ‘Cucho’ Hernández, who is with his national team for the CONMEBOL Qualifiers.
Final Betting Analysis: Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew
Neither Orlando City has been the best home team nor Columbus Crew has been the best away team. However, the local team comes with better momentum and has the plus of beating this rival not long ago, so we believe a 3-2 victory for Orlando will be the outcome.
The numbers at MyBookie.ag have Orlando City as a favorites, as the Moneyline for them shows +125. Meanwhile, Columbus Crew has +205, and the draw is at +270.
In the current season, these teams had a high-scoring last match, as Orlando won at home 4-3. Ramiro Enrique was the big star with two goals.
Go for a win in Orlando City’s Moneyline. If you bet $100 at +125, you will gain $125 for a total payout of $225.
EN 
ES 
PT