Updated 13 October 2026.
Columbus Crew welcome Charlotte to Lower.com Field in a Major League Soccer fixture that kicks off at 00:30 UK on Thursday 15 October. The hosts sit 13th in the Eastern Conference and have lost 15 of their 28 games. Charlotte are 5th, 17 points better off, yet our model still makes the home side the likelier winner.
The case for the hosts is in the shooting: Brais Méndez has had a shot on target in five straight games and Santiago RodrÃguez a shot in six, so the shooting is coming from the right places even if the results have been uneven.
Columbus have won only 8 of 28 and sit 13th on 29 points, with 41 goals scored and 46 conceded in the Eastern Conference table. Their latest game was a 3-2 defeat at Orlando City, and before it came a 2-1 home win over Inter Miami and a 2-0 win at CF Montréal.
Both teams have scored in 71% of Columbus games and 71% have gone over 2.5 goals. They produce only 4.32 shots on target a game, so their threat comes from a small number of good chances.
Charlotte are 5th on 46 points from 13 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats, with 50 scored and 40 conceded. Their latest result was a 3-2 home win over Dallas. Before that came a 0-1 home defeat to Chicago Fire, a 2-1 win at DC United and a 3-3 draw at Cincinnati.
They score 1.79 goals a game and concede 1.43.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Zawadzki, Amundsen, Farsi; Chambost, Habroune; Zaroury, RodrÃguez, Méndez; MartÃnez
Charlotte possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Cleary, Kessler, Johnson, Toffolo; Westwood, Bronico; Abada, Biel, Saint-Maximin; Toklomati
Brais Méndez is the standout for Columbus. He has had a shot on target in five straight games and averages 2.2 per game over his 11 appearances. He is 1.40 at bet365 to get one more.
Santiago RodrÃguez has had a shot in six straight games, averaging 3 per game across his six appearances, and has also made a tackle in each of those six. Two or more shots is 1.20 at bet365 and he has done it in four of his last five.
Dylan Chambost has had a shot in four of his last five, with two or more in each of the last three. One or more shot is 1.20 at bet365.
For Charlotte, Allan Saint-Maximin has had a shot on target in five straight games and averages 1.4. He is 1.67 at Ladbrokes to make it six. Liel Abada has had a shot in six straight games, at 2.5 per game across his 21 appearances.
We back Columbus Crew to win at 1.91 with bet365, and the model gives them a 46% chance against 28% for Charlotte. The interest is in the player markets, where Méndez, RodrÃguez and Saint-Maximin all arrive on shooting runs.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Crew win | 1.91 (bet365) | 46% |
| Draw | 4.00 (bet365) | 26% |
| Charlotte win | 3.50 (bet365) | 28% |
| Both teams to score | 1.48 (Ladbrokes) | 62% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.50 (bet365) | 60% |
We expect 1.75 goals from Columbus and 1.34 from Charlotte, and the model puts both teams scoring at 62%. 1-1 is the likeliest score, so a draw is in play, though we make Columbus the more likely winner.
Statz prediction: Columbus Crew 1-1 Charlotte.
Kick-off at Lower.com Field is 00:30 UK on Thursday 15 October 2026, which is the evening of Wednesday 14 October in Columbus.
We predict a 1-1 draw. The model makes Columbus Crew the more likely winner at 46%, with Charlotte at 28% and the draw at 26%.
Columbus Crew are the favourites at 1.91 with bet365. Charlotte are 3.50 and the draw is 4.00.
Our model gives both teams to score a 62% chance, and the best price is 1.48 at Ladbrokes. Both teams have scored in 71% of Columbus games this season.
In the Eastern Conference, Columbus Crew are 13th with 29 points from 28 games. Charlotte are 5th with 46 points from 28 games.
Brais Méndez has had a shot on target in five straight games for Columbus, and Allan Saint-Maximin has done the same for Charlotte. Santiago RodrÃguez has had a shot in six straight games.
Columbus: Schulte; Moreira, Zawadzki, Amundsen, Farsi; Chambost, Habroune; Zaroury, RodrÃguez, Méndez; MartÃnez. Charlotte: Kahlina; Cleary, Kessler, Johnson, Toffolo; Westwood, Bronico; Abada, Biel, Saint-Maximin; Toklomati.