BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (April 7, 2018) – The Chicago Fire topped visiting Columbus Crew SC 1-0 thanks to a goal from reigning MLS Golden Boot winner Nemanja Nikolic on Saturday at Toyota Park.
Nikolic capitalized on a giveaway from Crew SC (3-2-1, 10 pts.) goalkeeper Zack Steffen, slotting his shot into the net in the 27th minute for the game’s lone goal. That strike was Nikolic’s fourth of the season, moving him into a tie for fourth in the league in goals scored.
Defensively, the Fire (1-2-1, 4 pts.) earned their first clean sheet of the year. The shutout was also Richard Sanchez’s first with the Fire and in his 6-year MLS career.
Chicago scored for the 35th consecutive home game, the longest streak in MLS since 2010. The last time the Fire failed to score at Toyota Park was March 19, 2016 in a scoreless draw against Crew SC.
Three Fire players earned participation milestones on Saturday. Rookie midfielder Diego Campos made his first career professional start, Alan Gordon started his first game with the Fire, and rookie Homegrown Player Grant Lillard made his professional debut as a substitute in the 64th minute.
The Fire return to action on Saturday, April 14 against the LA Galaxy (2-1-1, 7 pts.) at Toyota Park. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. CT, and the match will be televised nationally on Univision Deportes with a radio broadcast also available on Univision Deportes 1200AM.
Postmatch Reactions | Paunovic | Sanchez | Campos
Chicago Fire 1:0 Columbus Crew SC
April 7, 2018 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 11,023
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (unassisted) 27’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Johan Kappelhof (caution) 6’
CLB – Artur (caution) 47’
CHI – Richard Sanchez (caution) 90’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (caution) 90’+4’
Chicago Fire: Richard Sanchez; Johan Kappelhof, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Kevin Ellis (Grant Lillard 64’); Drew Conner, Dax McCarty ©, Diego Campos (Elliot Collier 71’), Tony Tchani, Brandon Vincent; Nemanja Nikolic, Alan Gordon (Brandt Bronico 77’).
Shots: 6; Shots On-Goal: 1; Fouls: 11; Saves: 2; Offsides: 0; Corners: 4.
Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams (Adam Jahn 90’), Milton Valenzuela; Wil Trapp ©, Artur (Mohammad Abu 57’); Cristian Martinez (Niko Hansen 57’), Federico Higuain, Pedro Santos; Gyasi Zardes.
Shots: 20; Shots On-Goal: 2; Fouls: 7; Saves: 0; Offsides: 4; Corners: 11.
