COLUMBUS, OH. (Aug. 12, 2017) – Despite an early goal from forward Michael de Leeuw, the Chicago Fire (12-6-5, 41 pts.) fell 3-1 to Eastern Conference rivals Columbus Crew SC (11-12-2, 35 points) on Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium.
MLS Matchcenter
The Dutchman gave the Fire the lead 13 minutes into the game. Midfielder Dax McCarty found himself with space outside the Columbus attacking third from a restart, and swerved a ball into a crowded 18-yard-box for a charging to de Leeuw to snap home with his head. The goal was de Leeuw's second in as many games and his third of 2017 overall.
In the 18th minute, Columbus found an equalizer on a fortunate bounce inside Matt Lampson’s box. Midfielder Artur sent in a shot from distance that deflected off defender Johan Kappelhof and onto the foot of forward Kekuta Manneh, who put an unimpeded shot past Lampson to make the score 1-1.
Columbus would break the deadlock in the 73rd minute. After a turnover near the center circle, midfielder Wil Trapp played a long ball down the left touchline for Waylon Francis in transition, and the defenders cross into the box was finished by an on-running Justin Meram.
The Columbus third came via an Ola Kamara penalty kick in the 88th minute. Kamara picked up the ball on a turnover and made a solo run into the Fire 18, where Lampson came off his line in low and parried the ball away. Referee Armando Villarreal pointed to the spot, where Kamara scored the final goal of the night to make the score 3-1.
The Fire will now shift focus to a mid-week trip to Montreal to take on the Impact on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Kickoff from Stade Saputo is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago and Univision Chicago 1200AM.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (12-6-5, 41 pts.) 1:3 Columbus Crew SC (11-12-2, 35 points)
Aug. 12, 2017 – MAPFRE Stadium
Attendance: 18,690
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Michael de Leeuw (Dax McCarty) 13’
CLB – Kekuta Manneh 18
’
CLB – Justin Meram (Waylon Francis, Wil Trapp) 73’
CLB – Ola Kamara (PK) 88'
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Joao Meira (caution) 26’
CLB – Justin Meram (simulation) 59
’
CLB
–
Jonathan Menshah (unsporting behavior) 67
’
CHI
–
Matt Polster (caution) 73’
CHI
–
Matt Lampson (caution) 89'
Chicago Fire: Matt Lampson; Matt Polster, Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira, Patrick Doody; Bastian Schweinsteiger, Dax McCarty ©; Michael de Leeuw, Luis Solignac (Arturo Alvarez 60’), David Accam (Jonathan Campbell 90’); Nemanja Nikolic.
Subs not used: Stefan Cleveland, Drew Conner, Juninho, Djordje Mihailovic, Christian Dean.
Shots: 11; Shots On-Goal: 3; Saves: 1; Fouls: 5; Corners: 3; Offsides: 0
Columbus Crew SC:
Zack Steffen, Jonathan Mensa, Josh Williams, Lalas Abubakar, Harrison Afful (
Hector Jimenez 46’), Artur, Will Trapp, Waylon Francis, Kekuta Manneh (
Cristian Martinez 65’)
, Justin Meram (Adam Jahn 90’), Ola Kamara.
Subs not used: Brad Stuver, Jukka Raitala, Nicolai Naess, Mohammed Abu.
Shots: 11; Shots On-Goal: 4; Saves: 2; Fouls: 6; Corners: 5; Offsides: 3
