At this point it is getting hard to find a team in the Eastern Conference that wants to make the playoffs. That's not another jab at the East being completely devoid of any good teams (even if it's true) either. It's a matter of all the East teams losing and losing when other teams in the conference are losing as they have a chance to move up the table. The Columbus Crew lose a few, opening the door for the Philadelphia Union to take over the top spot in the conference, but then they go winless in eight matches. Sporting Kansas City can't put anything together and neither can the Houston Dynamo, while the New York Red Bulls have been nothing short of dreadful.
Major League Soccer (Mid)Week 27, Preview, Pick: Do Crew Or Dynamo Want To Make Playoffs?
The Crew and Dynamo have been terrible of late, but Houston has been terrible on the road all season so this one favors Columbus
With the rest of the teams in the East playing horribly, the Crew and Dynamo have gotten away with terrible play of their own. Columbus has given up 10 goals in their last two games and, shockingly, they’ve lost them both. They’re a team that’s a bit of a mess right now and have dropped into a tie atop the East, putting home-field advantage in the conference final in doubt. Luckily for them they get to play the Dynamo on Wednesday, who have been equally bad. Houston haven’t scored in either of their last two matches and are now outside of the East’s top three, which is what they need to automatically qualify for the playoffs.
If the Crew are to win, they will have to do so without Emilio Renteria and Eddie Gaven, who are both out with injuries. On the flip side, Houston is without Eddie Robinson because of an injury, while Carlos Costly will sit out with a suspension after picking up a red card on Saturday.
The Crew have to be the favorites, even if their injuries are more of a blow to their team than Houston’s absences. They won in Houston earlier this year, 2-0, continuing their unbeaten streak against the Dynamo that goes back to 2008. Continuing that streak will require improved defense, but stopping a Houston attack at home shouldn’t be too much of an issue. After all, the Dynamo haven’t won away from Robertson Stadium all season.
Day: Wednesday; Time: 7:30 pm ET; Pick: Columbus 2-1
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