100 Minutes: Columbus Crew 2, Chicago Fire 1
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Late daggers are nothing new for the Chicago Fire. In 2024, a years-long trend shows no signs of breaking.
The Columbus Crew earned a late winner against the Men in Red, who stumbled to a 2-1 defeat in their second road game of the season, ensuring they enter mid-March without a win on the board.
Frank Klopas, no stranger to tactical surprise, reverted to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, handing debut starts to new additions Tobias Salquist and Chase Gasper along the back line. Xherdan Shaqiri started again as a #10, with DP Hugo Cuypers starting up front for the third successive game.
Despite a strong crowd in Columbus, the visitors came out aggressively and looked like the more proactive team in the opening minutes. Maren Haile-Selassie had an attempt saved three minutes in, and Brian Gutiérrez ripped a shot over the bar on the nine-minute mark. The Crew’s star-studded offense, containing names such as Cucho Hernández and Diego Rossi, did find a way back into the half, though, and Chris Brady had to make two saves before the break.
The second half started opposite from the first, with the Crew on the front foot. Brady was immediately threatened time and time again, and made three big saves before the hour mark. Chris Mueller replaced Brian Gutiérrez shortly thereafter, bringing fresh legs into an attack that was slowing.
Columbus’ attack was inevitable, though, and Wilfried Nancy’s team found the breakthrough via substitute Jacen Russell-Rowe. It was a deserved goal for a team that had clearly shown their superiority in the first 25 minutes of the half.
That doesn’t mean Chicago didn’t have their chances. Cuypers, who struggled from a lack of service in his first two matches with the club, had plenty of opportunities to find his first goal, but it was simply not his night. Within a very short span, he both dragged a one-on-one wide and knocked a shot off the post.
Lower.com Field was shocked, however, when in a heartbeat, the Fire tied the game. Shaqiri played through Haile-Selassie, who attempted to round Patrick Schulte, but Fabian Herbers popped up to knock the ball in from close range. After a quick VAR check, the goal was confirmed, ensuring that the ex-Union draft pick scored his second road goal of the year in such fashion.
A point in Ohio is always hard to come by in MLS, and the Men in Red sought to defend it. Referee Richonne Clark – brother of ex-Crew and USMNT midfielder Ricardo Clark – awarded 12 minutes of stoppage time, which was just enough for the home team to ensure that didn’t happen. Mohamed Farsi tapped in a rebound in the 100th minute of play, handing the Crew three points.
The Fire return home next week to face CF Montréal at Soldier Field.
