Chicago Fire 2-1 Columbus Crew
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–We mentioned how it’s been the same old song for the Chicago Fire. The only difference between Saturday’s loss to FC Cincinnati and Wednesday night’s match against Columbus was that it ended in a 2-2 draw.
Just about everything else about this followed the script that fans are all too used to by now. The Fire did take the lead in the 28th minute as Djordje Mihailovic scored on a half-volley unmarked in what was otherwise not the most energetic first half.
Two minutes into the second half, the Crew would come up with an equalizer as Eduardo Sosa found Gyasi Zardes in the box and the latter scored from six yards out to make it 1-1.
Once again, the Fire had tons of chances. They had 13 of their 19 shots in the second half. Nico Gaitan had a bicycle kick shot go off the post in the 62nd minute, but his backheel a minute later would go off Wil Trapp and right to CJ Sapong to give the Fire the lead again.
But once again, the Fire tried to preserve the lead by putting five men at the back, including substitutes Marcelo and Jorge Corrales and it would not work as Crew substitute Romario Williams headed in a cross from Luis Diaz to rescue a point for a Columbus team that has amassed just four in the last 15 games.
Even Veljko Paunovic’s post-match press conference now just seems like a broken record.
“We know that who we are and what’s happening to us,” said Paunovic after the match. “We are aware that we have to get better. That we have to get in those moments where the game is going either way we have stay strong. We are aware of that and we have to fix that. I’m proud of the effort of the team. I’m proud of everyone for their commitment. Unfortunately, this game and the last game we gave up some goals that in soccer happens.
“We are aware of who we are and we are working to fix it and we will not stop until we make it. Eventually one day, it’s going to turn in our direction and start to go well. Hopefully, we are not going to give up and we will continue fighting to improve, fighting for this club, and there is nothing else that I have to add.”
Fire fans are simply tired of this and some would love nothing more that to see both Paunovic and president and general manager Nelson Rodriguez get sacked and for someone to run owner Andrew Hauptman out on a rail, but that’s been true for over a year now.
Speaking of Rodriguez, he hinted that the club is “in the open market” after the most recent run of form and that could signal a lot of player departures like the one where Mo Adams was shipped to Atlanta for $100,000 in general allocation money in 2020. But once again, many feel that it is the technical staff and the front office that need to be shipped.
The Fire next match is away to Philadelphia on Saturday at 6:30pm on ESPN+. Columbus returns home to face Montreal at the same night and time.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Djordje Mihailovic (Frankowski) 28
CLB-Gyasi Zardes (Argudo, Sosa) 47
CHI-CJ Sapong (unassisted) 63
CLB-Romario Williams (Diaz) 90
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Bastian Schweinsteiger (caution, reckless tackle) 52
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #27-Kenneth Kronholm; #13-Brandt Bronico, #4-Johan Kappelhof, #31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, #5-Francisco Calvo; #6-Dax McCarty (#25-Jorge Corrales 80), #14-Djordje Mihailovic (#10-Aleksandar Katai 58); #21-Fabian Herbers, #20-Nico Gaitan (#2-Marcelo 74), #11-Przemyslaw Frankowski; #9-CJ Sapong
Subs not used: #45-Richard Sanchez, #12-Amando Moreno, #23-Nemanja Nikolic, #17-Diego Campos
COLUMBUS CREW (4-2-3-1): #1-Joe Bendik; #25-Harrison Afful, #21-Alex Crognale, #30-Aboubacar Keita, #16-Hector Jimenez; #6-Wil Trapp, #13-Ricardo Clark (#17-Romario Williams 79); #29-David Accam (#7-Pedro Santos 54), #20-Eduardo Sosa (#18-Luis Diaz 65), #2-Luis Argudo; #11-Gyasi Zardes
Subs not used: #24-Jon Kempin, #14-Waylon Francis, #8-Artur, #28-Niko Hansen
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 19-10 CLB
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-5 CLB
FOULS: CHI 10-10 CLB
OFFSIDES: CHI 3-0 CLB
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-2 CLB
SAVES: CHI 4-5 CLB
Referee: Armando Villareal
Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Jose Da Silva
4th Official: Lorant Varga
VAR: Tim Ford
Weather: Cloudy and 87º
Attendance: 7,482
Man of the Match: Joe Bendik (CLB)
