Fire inch closer to playoffs with win over Crew

Chicago Fire 2-0 Columbus Crew

CHICAGO, IL—Chicago Fire FC are now just one win away from clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2017 after a 2-0 win over Columbus Crew. The win, coupled with New York Red Bulls losing 3-2 against New York City FC, puts the Fire five points clear of Red Bulls with a match in hand. Despite the loss, Columbus clinches a playoff spot due to the Red Bulls’ loss. However, the Crew are now in eighth and just two points clear of the Fire after winning just once in their last eight matches.

The Fire completely dominated in the first half, though they would only get one goal to show for it as three goals were disallowed—one for a foul and two for offsides. The one that did count was Andrew Gutman coming down the flank and blasting one from an acute angle that went off the crossbar, off the far post, and in past Evan Bush in the 25th minute. The Crew had zero shots and zero expected goals in the first half.

The Crew attack showed some signs of life in the second half, but they rarely troubled Chris Brady’s net all night as they had trouble dealing with an aggressive 5-4-1 where wingbacks Andrew Gutman and Leonardo Barroso were giving the Crew fits. It would be a Crew giveaway in midfield that would be the catalyst for the Fire’s second goal.

Daniel Gazdag gave the ball away in midfield and it led to a counter attack for the Fire led by Andre Franco. With options on his right, Franco fed the ball to Hugo Cuypers who flicked it past Bush to make it 2-0 after having a goal disallowed earlier on the night. ‘

Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter thought the first half for his team was the best they had played all year by making things really difficult for Columbus.

“Before the game, we talked about our home record, and we talked about our results in front of our own fans and we weren’t happy with it,” said Berhalter. “And I think the thing that we focused on today was being difficult to play against. And we know when we go on the road, there are times where the opponent really puts you under and is really aggressive, and it’s really difficult and that’s all we want to focus on.”

“I mean, we were completely on it, and that’s what I mean by making them uncomfortable.

“And one thing that I was talking about when we say, make the team uncomfortable, it could also be without the ball, and there was no space for Columbus to play today, very little space. And teams don’t like that – when we play against teams like that, it’s extremely difficult.”

It’s now back-to-back clean sheets for the Fire since the shift to a five-man backline that has now given a couple of teams fits.

“I think it’s good. I think it gives other teams a different idea of what we’re going to do, because you don’t really expect to see me popping down the left wing sometimes, but it happens. I think it’s good, it gives us a different look in all sorts of areas and a little bit more defensive structure, and stability,” said Fire captain Jack Elliott.

The Fire next play Inter Miami on Tuesday night in Fort Lauderdale. Kickoff is at 6:30pm CT on Apple TV.

Photos by Leslie Smith

SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Andrew Gutman (Elliott) 25
CHI-Hugo Cuypers (Franco) 70

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CLB-Ibrahim Aliyu (caution, tactical foul) 66
CHI-Sam Rogers (caution, time wasting) 90+4

CHICAGO FIRE (5-4-1): #1-Chris Brady; #15-Andrew Gutman, #3-Jack Elliott, #5-Sam Rogers, #16-Joel Waterman, #2-Leonardo Barroso (#24-Jonathan Dean 50); #19-Jonathan Bamba (#19-Brian Gutierrez 73), #10-Andre Franco (#23-Kellyn Acosta 90), #42-Dje D’Avilla (#22-Mauricio Pineda 73), #11-Phillip Zinckernagel (#7-Maren Haile-Selassie 73); #9-Hugo Cuypers

Subs not used: #25-Jeff Gal, #35-Sergio Oregel, #12-Tom Barlow, #6-Romingue Kouame

COLUMBUS CREW (4-3-3): #24-Evan Bush; #18-Malte Amundsen, #21-Yevahn Cheberko (#48-Cesa Ruvalcaba 86), #31-Steven Moreria, #2-Andres Herrera (#26-Lasai Lappalainen 80); #14-Amar Sedjic (#11-Ibrahim Aliyu 46), #7-Dylan Chambost, #6-Darlington Nagbe; #27-Max Arfsten, #8-Daniel Gazdag (#19-Jason Russell-Rowe 71), #30-Hugo Picard

Subs not used: #1-Nicolas Hagen, #28-Patrick Schulte, #20-Derrick Jones, #44-Tristan Brown

EXPECTED GOALS: CHI 3.1-0.4 CLB
TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 22-7 CLB
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 9-2 CLB
FOULS:  CHI 7-9 CLB
OFFSIDES:  CHI 6-4 CLB
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 7-4 CLB
SAVES:  CHI 2-7 CLB

Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referees: Brooke Mayo, Meghan Mullen
4th Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Michael Radchuk
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Weather: Sunny and 82º
Attendance: 22,321
Man of the Match: Andrew Gutman (CHI)