The Columbus Crew faced a challenging night as they lost 2-0 to the Chicago Fire in an away match on September 27. Despite this defeat, the Crew secured a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs thanks to New York City FC’s victory over the New York Red Bulls.
In the first half, Columbus struggled to find their footing, failing to register a single shot while the Fire had multiple opportunities disallowed by offside and foul calls. The deadlock was eventually broken by Chicago’s Andrew Gutman, whose long-range effort ricocheted off the crossbar and right post before finally crossing the line.
In the 70th minute, Chicago extended their lead. Hugo Cuypers took advantage of a counterattack, flicking the ball over Crew goalkeeper Evan Bush after a well-timed pass. Throughout the second half, Columbus made several attempts with seven shots, of which only two were on target, while Chicago dominated the game with 22 shots overall.
The Crew played without five key starters due to injuries, including Wessam Abou Ali and Diego Rossi. Coach Wilfried Nancy made the decision to start Evan Bush over Patrick Schulte, with Bush contributing six saves during the match.
The game saw several critical substitutions as the Crew tried to change the momentum. Among them were Jacen Russell-Rowe replacing Daniel Gazdag and Cesar Ruvalcaba coming in for Yevhen Cheberko. Despite their efforts, the Crew could not bridge the gap.
The match concluded with Columbus holding 44% possession compared to Chicago’s 56%, underscoring the latter’s dominance. Columbus Crew’s position in the Eastern Conference standings remains precarious, ranked eighth and closely pursued by Chicago.
While the Crew faced setbacks due to injuries and lineup changes, their secured playoff spot offers hope for a spirited performance in the postseason. Maintaining focus on key strategies and solidifying their defense will be crucial as they look to capitalize on their playoff berth.