Our prediction for this MLS match:
After suffering a 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls, Columbus Crew will be aiming to get back on course when they face Seattle Sounders at Lower.com Field on Saturday morning. Columbus have been struggling to find their best form of late, with the team losing each of their previous five league fixtures. Considering that key attacker Gyasi Zardes suffered an injury in the defeat to the Metros, which is probably the main reason why home win should not be considered.
Seattle, on the other hand, proved their worth in back-to-back wins over Portland Timbers (6-2) and Dallas (1-0), and given Columbus’ poor losing run, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the away team. Peru international Raul Ruidiaz should be recalled to the starting XI after scoring as a substitute in the triumph over Dallas.
Highlighted Player (Fanendo Adi):
After spending his youth career at Lagos Islanders and Union Bank, Fanendo Adi moved to Trencic of Slovakia in 2009. The Nigeria international played for the likes of Metalurh Donetsk, Dynamo Kiev, Tavriya Simferopol, Copenhagen and Portland Timbers as well before joining FC Cincinnati.
Adi was born in Lagos (Nigeria) on October 10, 1990 and he has two caps for the Nigeria U23 national team. However, he has yet to make his debut for the senior team. The Cincinnati forward was called up to the senior squad in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, but he did not see any game action. Fanendo Adi made his MLS debut for Cincinnati on March 3, 2019 in a 4-1 loss to Seattle Sounders.
His main position is centre forward and his preferred foot is right. His biggest success is winning of the 2015 MLS Cup where Portland Timbers defeated Columbus Crew 2-1 in the title game.
Highlighted Team (Seattle Sounders):
Seattle Sounders are an American soccer club that compete in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. The Sounders are owned by the likes of Joe Roth, Paul Allen, Drew Carey and Adrian Hanauer and they play their home games at CenturyLink Field.
The club won the 2016 MLS Cup, with the team beating Toronto FC on penalties in the trophy game at BMO Field. Swiss goalkeeper Stefan Frei won the MVP honor after pulling off several brilliant saves in the 2016 MLS Cup final.
Winning of the MLS Cup is undisputedly the club’s biggest success, but it has to be noted that the Sounders clinched the Supporters’ Shield trophy in 2014. Seattle hold rivalry with Portland Timbers, but Vancouver Whitecaps are regarded as the club’s bitter rivals as well.
Experienced attacker Clint Dempsey is undisputedly the club’s most significant star and he has been playing for the CenturyLink Field outfit since 2014. He scored eight goals in the league in the 2016 season and, no doubt, he helped the Sounders win their first ever MLS Cup.