Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union Prediction, 4/18/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 4/14/2021

Game: Columbus Crew SC vs Philadelphia Union

Date: Sunday, April 18, 2021

Location: Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH

TV: FS1

Odds/Point Spread: Columbus (-111) Philadelphia (+250)

Pedro Santos and the Columbus Crew (12-5-6 last year, 3rd in the Eastern Conference) play the Philadelphia Union (14-5-4 last season, 1st in the Eastern Conference) at Historic Crew Stadium on Sunday. The goalkeepers who are expected to start are Eloy Room for the Columbus Crew and Andre Blake for the Philadelphia Union. The moneyline on this contest has the Columbus Crew coming in at -111 and the Zolos are at +250. The O/U opens at 2.5.

Columbus stepped onto the pitch against Seattle in their last matchup and took home the win by a score of 3-0. When discussing the passing game, they ended up with a 68.2% rate by converting 202 of the 296 pass attempts in their last outing. The Crew tried 24 dribbles in this matchup and completed 16 of the attempts for a rate of 66.7%. Concerning shot accuracy, Columbus walked away from the pitch at a 33.3% clip by putting 5 shots on target of 15 total shots. Columbus averaged 1.48 goals per 90 (34 total goals) and accounted for 26 assists in all contests last season.

Pedro Santos is a player who should be able to impact this game for the Columbus Crew. He has accounted for 36 assists while accumulating 50 yellow card warnings during his career. Santos has started 169 outings so far in his career while scoring 0.25 goals per 90 mins. The forward from Portugal has recorded 41 goals in 14,747 mins. Another player who could decide the outcome is Gyasi Zardes, the forward born in the United States. He has assisted on a goal 22 times in his pro soccer career while he has scored 79 goals. Zardes has played 17,851 mins during 198 starts and has earned himself 12 yellow card warnings. He currently averages 0.40 goals per 90 minutes so far in his career.

The guy defending the goal for Columbus Crew is Eloy Room. Room has been on the field for 17,481 minutes and has 667 stops during his soccer career. His goals allowed per 90 minutes is 1.37 (266 total goals given up) and his save percentage is 72.6. The keeper from the Netherlands has faced 928 shots tried against him in 192 career starts. Room (77-51-66 record in his career) has accumulated 43 shutouts, which leaves him with a 22.4% shutout percentage.

In their last game, Philadelphia walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 2-0 against New England. The Zolos had a 75.0% successful dribble rate by completing 15 of the 20 dribbles they tried. They wrapped up this outing by completing 434 of the 529 passing tries for a percentage of 82.0%. Philadelphia had 1 shot on goal out of 15 shots attempted which had them at a 6.7% rate in their last outing. With 43 goals and 30 assists in all their matches, Philadelphia sported an average of 1.87 goals and 1.30 assists per 90 minutes.

Kacper Przybylko should be someone to watch for Philadelphia Union. The forward born in Germany has accumulated 10,684 professional minutes and has earned 46 goals. He has accumulated 10 yellow card cautions during his pro soccer career and has assisted on a goal 18 times. He scores 0.39 goals per 90 minutes and has been in the starting lineup in 115 games during his soccer career. You should also watch out for Alejandro Bedoya, the forward representing the United States. Bedoya has been handed 65 yellow card cautions in 24,122 mins played (265 starts). His G/90 average so far in his career is 0.15. He has 39 goals in his career while helping on a goal 33 times.

Andre Blake will be looking after the net for Philadelphia Union. In his pro soccer career, Blake has surrendered 204 goals while earning 458 saves in 145 starting assignments. He has conceded 1.41 goals per 90 while he holds a record of 59-32-54. He holds a save % of 71.0 and his shutout rate is 26.9%. Blake has recorded 39 clean sheets and has defended 648 shots tried against him in 13,013 mins throughout his career.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Columbus (-111)

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Columbus Crew vs Philadelphia Union Prediction, 4/18/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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