MIchael Parkhurst putting some pressure on the Chicago attack
Midwest melees in Major League Soccer are never simple affairs. The Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew have proven that in recent years when one might expect a result in their favor that it is the other that comes out on top. That is certainly something that Crew SC supporters are looking to avoid as their team hopes to get their first win of the season when they travel to Toyota Park tonight (5pm ESTMLS LIVE, CSN Plus, TWCSC-OH, FOX 28).
If the Crew are to turn things around in this match they will have to do it against history. Their 1-0 victory at Toyota Park last season was their first since 2006. Aside from a handful of ties, the Fire have dominated Columbus at home, pitching a 8-1-5 record in their last fourteen matches. Things have improved a bit for Columbus as of late as the club has picked up points in their last two road matches against Chicago.
For Columbus to escape Chicago with a result they will need a better effort from their defense. Despite showing some promise late last season, Columbus have returned to their undisciplined ways this season. In both of their losses this season the Crew have struggled at tracking late runs from the midfield. The Philadelphia Union’s Chris Pontius burned them on his two goals last week. Look for Fire midfielder John Goosens to try and replicate that magic against Crew SC center-back Michael Parkhurst.
Look for David Accam to also play a major role for Chicago. The Ghanaian international found his scoring touch late in the 2015 season and has not let up since. His two goals early in this campaign have kept a young, inexperienced Fire side in matches late. Furthermore his speed and first touch always seems to pose problems for defenders like Parkhurst and Gaston Sauro so much on their initial read of the defense. If he can start finding forward Kennedy Igboannanike with some regularity then the Fire will be a very dangerous side during this 2016 campaign.
Despite all of the Fire’s attacking efforts though the club has to remain disciplined in their defensive area. Bad mental lapses and costly red cards (midfielder Michael Harrington will sit out this match) are the two major sticking points as to why this club has one point out of two matches as opposed to six. Their back four of Rodrigo Ramos, Joao Meira, Johnathan Campbell, and Johan Kappelhoff have shown flashes of a side that can withstand pressure for long stretches and make decisive clears. But their lack of resolve showed by conceding goals early (two goals allowed in the first ten minutes through two matches).
That level of inexperience will be music to the ears of Crew SC supporters. Columbus features one of the most difficult group of attackers to defend. With midfielders Ethan Finlay and Justin Mearam crashing from the outside and Federico Higuain finding pockets of space (and the occasional foul) on the inside, look for forward Kei Kamara to have a big match.
Given the tactical advantage that Columbus has up top one would expect that this would be a rather easy match. But given their issues in defense and Chicago’s dogged determinism to stay in matches this result may not nearly be as certain. If the Crew can finally pull out a solid defensive effort then they may be able to build off of last year’s result in Chicago. But another sloppy defensive effort could be crippling for their chances in the Eastern Conference.
