[ad_1]
It’s Sunday night soccer on FOX Sports 1 and it’s a big matchup. The Columbus Crew is in Austin, Texas, competing against the newest MLS club, Austin FC, in their new Q2 stadium. MLS borrows this game as a potential rivalry as one of two games for the Crew against opponents from the Western Conference and gives it a late kick-off on national television.
Here are the Massive Report predictions for Sunday’s very first game between Black & Gold and VERDE.
William Torres
This is obviously one of the biggest games of the season for the crew, and not because of the impact it could have on the table, but because of all the tales that involve Columbus and Austin. The Black & Gold have responded well to big matches lately and are the favorites in my opinion despite playing on the street.
Given the crew’s well-documented street fights and Austin’s inability to get the ball into the net, I don’t expect a high-scoring game – they have the worst offense in the league with just six goals scored. Both teams were mostly solid defensively and I see the crew getting the most out of a highly competitive game in Texas.
Columbus Crew 1 Austin FC 0
Abigail Hintz
Rivalry or not, this is going to be a good game. After a frustrating loss to the Philadelphia Union, Caleb Porter’s side will try to get back on track quickly. Austin ranks 11th in the Western Conference ranking and hasn’t won a game since May 1st. I don’t think the crew will give them that satisfaction on Sunday. Both teams played on Wednesday so there is no break advantage. As long as the crew can shake the trip out of their system, they won’t have a problem.
Columbus Crew 2 Austin FC 0
Thomas Costello
The Columbus Crew and Austin FC will be a good first chapter of the on-field rivalry for Columbus. Expect Columbus to become strong and Gyasi Zardes to score the first goal in Q2 stadium history. Lucas Zelarayan will show the home side a good show with a second black and gold goal. Austin will be beaten by the reigning MLS Cup champions and lose by the crew’s second away win of the MLS season.
Columbus Crew 2 Austin FC 1
Patrick Guldan
Outside the field, the emotions for crew fans will be high. This comes on the field as the third game in nine days, a real grind for both teams.
Austin is one of the more solid expansion teams of recent times. They are well balanced. They also play a familiar style, with Gregg Berhalter’s student Josh Wolff. Austin still lacks top talent, especially on the offensive.
The crew is finally getting well at important points. Kevin Molino is getting fit and Milton Valenzuela has finally seen the field after a break of over two months. Even with Artur and Bradley Wright-Phillips, Gyasi Zardes is as fit as anyone else on the team, Lucas Zelarayan is a game breaker and Liam Fraser was a minor revelation.
This is still a great team defense that can keep any team goalless, especially one that fights like Austin. They also have enough individual talent to steal a goal even when things don’t go according to plan. A rough, tired crew does the job.
Columbus Crew 2 Austin FC 0
Patrick Murphy
I’m more interested in how both teams approach this game. Is the intensity on the field as high as in the stands – or is it more on Twitter? If the 2017-19 drama and the end of the Anthony Precourt era in Columbus is a bigger story than the game itself, that’s probably not good news for the crew.
The Black & Gold certainly have the talent and experience to win on the road against an expansion team that is still trying to figure itself out and pretty insane, with a number of key players – Alex Ring and Matt Besler included – questionable for the game. I believe there will be extra motivation for some of these Columbus players if they only knew what it would mean for a number of fans to see their team win at Precourt’s new stadium.
I think the crew will leave Austin with three points, but Josh Wolff and Co. are not making it easy for themselves.
Columbus Crew 2 Austin FC 1
Collin Johnson
The crew ends a crowded eight-day game with a trip west to the new home of an old “friend”. Columbus did well to switch the squad in Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Union so Caleb Porter should be able to field a nearly full-fledged squad. Austin struggles with his own injuries and goalscoring problems. Midfield engine Alex Ring can play but is still taking a significant blow.
On their trip to the Texas capital, the crew will have the chance to score the first MLS goal at Q2 Stadium and send some new rivals home unhappy. Columbus will happily cede possession to Austin and use a deadly counterattack to get this game out of reach in the first half.
Columbus Crew 3 Austin FC 0
Side Benatar
The atmosphere will be electrifying for a game that, if you think about it, shouldn’t be happening in 2017 in the eyes of Anthony Precourt. It’s an unlikely rivalry that will grow into a real rivalry or after Sunday’s game at the 2nd stadium. From a footballing point of view, the crew is much stronger than Austin and a second road win should be achieved by Black & Gold. Columbus starts with three points in its new MLS stadium tour.
Columbus Crew 1 Austin FC 0
Adam Miller
The Crew is set for one of the most anticipated games of the year in Austin. After a frustrating loss to the Philadelphia Union, the Black & Gold are set to hit the streets again this game before Lower.com Field opens on July 3rd. Despite their street fights, the Black & Gold adopt this game as Commander Mode and dominate most of the game. Gyasi Zardes scores two goals before Lucas Zelarayan crowns the win.
Columbus Crew 3 Austin FC 0
Ralph Schudel
An expansion team has defeated a reigning MLS Cup champion only four times since 2005. The crew fell victim to an expansion of the Seattle Sounders roster in 2009, but I don’t think that will repeat itself on Sunday night. Austin FC haven’t scored in six of their first 10 MLS games, making them the first team in MLS history to score in more than half of their first 10 games. El Tree has a talented squad with players like Cecilio Dominguez, Diego Fagundez and goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
That being said, Austin tends to tune out at key moments in the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gyasi Zardes sneaked behind Austin’s defense thanks to a great pass off the wing and generated a high-quality goal opportunity. It’s going to be tight, but I see Black & Gold sneaking away victory.
Columbus Crew 1 Austin FC 0
What is your forecast for the crew’s trip to Austin? Let us know in the comment section below.
[ad_2]
