CHICAGO (June 10, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC (3-6-8, 17 points) fell 2-1 to the Columbus Crew (8-6-3, 27 points) at Soldier Field on Saturday night. The result marked the Fire’s first loss at home through nine League matches played this season.
Chicago had several strong chances early in the match, starting when midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie dodged defenders in the ninth minute to send a ball across the box to defender Miguel Navarro who sent the ball flying high just above the top of the net. The pair would repeat the play a few short minutes later for another exciting chance just missing. Forward Kei Kamara had his first opportunity in the 16th minute, sending the ball straight up the middle towards Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, but the ball sailed above the crossbar. Less than 10 minutes later, Kamara had another big moment, battling with two Crew defenders, escaping with the ball and sending a hard shot toward the net, but Schulte was able to swat the ball away off to his left side.
Columbus’ first opportunity would come in the 34th minute, with Crew midfielder Alex Morris sending a header from the center of the box just over the top of the crossbar out of reach of Fire goalkeeper Spencer Richey’s finger tips. Five minutes later, Columbus forward Cucho Hernández would earn a free kick in their attacking half, but midfielder Lucas Zelarayán’s attempt would be blocked by the Fire. In first-half stoppage time, Zelarayán sent a left footed shot from outside the box at the center of the goal, but Richey was able to secure it.
The first goal of the match wouldn’t come until the 59th minute, when Columbus captain Darlington Nagbe sent a perfectly placed pass to Hernández, who managed to sneak the ball inside past Richey.
Chicago nearly evened the match in the 86th minute, with midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri taking a free kick won by midfielder Jairo Torres from the left side of the pitch. The ball bounced between several different Fire players before moving through to captain Rafael Czichos, who was ruled offsides.
Two minutes later, Shaqiri would put Chicago on the board, scoring his first goal of the 2023 MLS season after receiving a driven cross from Miguel Navarro. However, the Crew would quickly follow, with Zelarayán adding another goal from long range to close out the match in second half stoppage time.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago heads to the Rose City to face the Portland Timbers at 9:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 21 at Providence Park. The match will be broadcast on Apple TV+, streamed in English on wlsam.com, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Notes:
- Tonight marked Chicago’s first home loss since October 2022. In their first eight MLS matches at home this season, Chicago were unbeaten with two wins and six draws. Before tonight, the Crew had won just one of their last 14 regular season away matches (1-7-6), dating back to their 3-2 win at the Fire last July.
- Seven changes were made to the lineup that faced FC Cincinnati in Matchday 17 on June 3 at TQL Stadium, with head coach Frank Klopas rotating the squad to play its 11th game in the last six weeks.
- Forward Kei Kamara returned to the 11 after alternating the previous MLS regular season match with Kacper Przybyłko up front.
- Brian Gutiérrez lined up in the XI for the second-straight regular season match, lining up next to Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri.
- Federico Navarro started for a fourth-straight match, joined by fellow Argentine Gastón Giménez for the fourth time this season.
- Captain Rafael Czichos returned to the lineup, next to Maren Haile-Selassie, Arnaud Souquet, Mauricio Pineda and Miguel Navarro.
- Goalkeeper Spencer Richey backstopped the group from the outset for the third time in League play this season.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady (head), defender Carlos Terán (right knee) and midfielder Chris Mueller (right upper leg) were unavailable for selection tonight.
Box Score:Chicago Fire FC 1:2 Columbus Crew
Goals:
CLB - Hernández (4) (Nagbe, 1) (WATCH) 59’
CHI - Xherdan Shaqiri (1) (M. Navarro, 2) (WATCH) 88’
CLB - Zelarayán (8) (A. Morris, 3) (WATCH) 90+3’
Discipline:
CLB - Amundsen (Yellow Card) 20’
CLB - Zawadski (Yellow Card) 25’
CHI - M. Navarro (Yellow Card) 45+5’
CLB - Farsi (Yellow Card) 81’
CHI - Herbers (Yellow Card) 89’
CLB - Zelarayán (Yellow Card) 90+4’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Richey, D Souquet (Dean, 78’), D Pineda, Czichos (capt.), D M. Navarro, M Haile-Selassie (Torres, 78’), M F. Navarro, M Giménez (Herbers, 80’), M Gutiérrez (Koutsias, 63’) M Shaqiri, F Kamara (Przybyłko, 63’)
Subs not used: GK Gal, D Omsberg, D Burks, D Aceves
Columbus Crew: GK Schulte, D Amundsen, D Farsi, D Moreira, M Zawadzki, M Nagbe (capt.), M A. Morris, M Zelarayán (Russell-Rowe, 90+6’), M Yeboah, F Hernández, F RamÃrez (Mățan, 80’)
Subs not used: GK Bush, D Quinton, D Medrana, M Molino, M Parente, M Arfsten
Stats Summary: CHI / CLBShots: 7 / 12
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 2 / 1
Passing Accuracy: 80.5% / 87.2%
Corners: 1 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 11
Offsides: 7 / 10
Possession: 43.1% / 56.9%
Attendance: 18,892
Referee: Mark Allatin
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Matthew Corrigan
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Asst. VAR: TJ Zablocki
