The Seattle Sounders are slight favorites to win Saturday’s MLS Cup final at the Columbus Crew. The defending champions and No. 2 seed out of the Western Conference are being offered at -130 by BetRivers.com, with the sportsbook listing the Crew at +100.
Columbus was the No. 3 seed out of the Eastern Conference and reached the finals for the third time. Following losses in 2008 and 2015, the Crew will try to win their first title without midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos, who are out because of COVID-19 protocols.
The Sounders are seeking their third title while making their fourth trip to the finals in the past five years. They’re coming off a come-from-behind victory over Minnesota United in the semifinals. Seattle is also trying to become the first team since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12 to win consecutive MLS championships.
Columbus is the home team because it edged Seattle in points per game (1.78-1.77). Mapfre Stadium will be limited to 1,500 fans because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Crew’s challenge will be enhanced without Nagbe and Santos, who were ruled out for the game on Thursday. Both were listed as “medically not cleared to play,” a designation introduced this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Columbus had announced that two players tested positive for COVID-19 this week but did not identify which two. Nagbe, however, acknowledged over social media on Friday that he had tested positive for the virus.
The Crew reached the final with a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution while Seattle overcame a two-goal, second-half deficit to defeat Minnesota United 3-2.
Crew forward Gyasi Zardes knows the game plan vs. Seattle.
“We have to start off on the right foot,” he said, “because a team like that, obviously they have a lot of experience, especially in big games like this.”
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
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