Burning Quickly: Columbus Crew 4, Chicago Fire 2
The Gregg Berhalter era has started for the Chicago Fire, but while there were some positive signs, it didn’t start with a win. Despite two early goals from Brian Gutiérrez, the Columbus Crew cruised to victory in the end at Lower.com Field.
With a handful of injuries piling up in the days prior to the match, the Fire’s lineup picked itself almost by default. Jack Elliott made his debut next to Carlos Terán, the team’s go-to center back pairing, while Sergio Oregel made his first MLS start in midfield. Star signing Jonathan Bamba started on the left behind DP Hugo Cuypers, who did not appear in preseason.
After a shaky first ten minutes by the Crew, a moment of attacking brilliance between Bamba and homegrown star Brian Gutiérrez opened the scoring from outside the penalty box. It’s the second straight year that the 21-year-old has scored the Fire’s first goal of the season, and both times, it came from outside the box on the road.
The initial lead lasted just seven minutes as Canadian international Jacen Russell-Rowe capitalized on a giveaway from inside the Fire’s penalty box. Oregel – who largely accounted himself well with the ball at his feet – was bodied off of the ball, and it enabled the Crew to level the score.
The first half energy didn’t stop, though, as once again, Bamba combined with Gutiérrez to reinstate the Fire’s lead just two minutes later in the 22nd minute. Bamba’s individual talent was on display once again and capped off an incredible first half in the attacking third, and while Gutiérrez’s shot was straight at goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, the homegrown did enough to put the ball past the U.S. international.
However, while the Fire looked excellent in the attacking half for most of the first 45, the defense was quite the opposite. A cross deflected off of both Elliott and then Terán, looping over a stranded Chris Brady who had no chance to make a save. The center back duo then granted Diego Rossi a free header inside the six-yard box just before halftime that handed the Crew a 3-2 lead heading into the break.
Going behind right before halftime put the Fire into a hole they couldn’t dig out from, and Rossi added another goal shortly thereafter. It was Philip Zinckernagel this time was responsible, as he lost possession just outside his own penalty box. It was a quiet night for the Dane on his MLS debut after picking up a knock in the final preseason game against the L.A. Galaxy last week.
There was a red card scare in the second half – VAR was evoked with Gutiérrez’s elbow made contact with Yevhen Cherberko – but referee Fotios Bazakos only upgraded the foul to a yellow card.
Bamba’s spark continued into the second half, but it wasn’t enough to fuel a comeback; the closest the Fire came to scoring at the end was when substitute Omari Glasgow – making his first appearance since signing a permanent first team contract this winter – had a shot from close range blocked by the defender. The game ended 4-2.
“We'll get there,” Berhalter said postgame. “I mean, it's frustrating. Disappointing. You can't win a game if you give up four goals…”
“I think the goals, basically we gave them three goals, right? That's tough. But the positives of it are that we created a number of chances. If we limit that, we're right in this game, potentially winning the game. Overall, again, bitterly disappointed with the result but proud of the effort.”
Lineup and Player Ratings
Chicago Fire Starting XI (4-3-3): Brady (6); Gutman (6.5), Terán (3.5), Elliott (3), Dean (3.5); Acosta (4), Oregel (4.5), Gutiérrez (7.5); Bamba (8.5), ZInckernagel (4), Cuypers (5)
Chicago Fire Substitutes: Barlow (5.5), Pineda (7), Glasgow (6)
Chicago Fire Head Coach: Berhalter (5.5)
