COLUMBUS, Ohio (Aug. 20, 2020) - Chicago Fire FC (1-4-1, 4 points) fell 3-0 to Columbus Crew SC (5-0-1,16 points) as the MLS regular season returned to action at MAPFRE Stadium on Thursday night.
In the 17th minute of play, Chicago led a counterattack that found Przemysław Frankowski firing a shot that went just wide of the far post. After the back-and-forth start, the hosts would open the scoring in the 20th minute after Derrick Etienne Jr. received a nice cutback pass from Milton Valenzuela and scored to make it 1-0.
In the second half, Columbus would score twice in the final ten minutes as Darlington Nagbe scored a highlight reel-worthy goal in the 81st minute and U.S. international Gyasi Zardes scored a tap-in in the 88th minute as Crew SC took the full three points.
Next on the schedule: Chicago Fire FC will make its long-awaited return to Soldier Field and play its first home match in 2020, taking on FC Cincinnati on the lakefront on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The match will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on WGN-TV and ESPN+ and transmitted locally in Spanish on 105.1 WOJO-HD2. The pregame show, presented by CIBC, will begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Notes:
- Thursday’s match against Columbus marked the Fire’s first game in phase one of Major League Soccer’s continuation of play in home markets.
- The Fire outshot Crew SC 11-9.
- Chicago now holds a 26-22-19 all-time record against the Columbus Crew SC.
- Defender Francisco Calvo captained the Fire and wore a captain’s armband that represents the Black Lives Matter movement. The armband was designed by Chicago-based artist and former Northwestern student-athlete Dwight White. For more information on the design, click here. Calvo has worn the captain’s armband in all six games this season.
- Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth made his first career start and appearance for the Fire. Shuttleworth has now amassed 186 appearances (182 starts) through 12 seasons in MLS.
- Chicago Fire Homegrown Brian Gutiérrez earned his first professional appearance after being subbed on in the 82nd minute.
Goals:
CLB - Derrick Etienne Jr. 20th minute: Derrick Etienne Jr. received a cutback pass from Milton Valenzuela and scored to make it 1-0.
CLB - Darlington Nagbe 81st minute: Nagbe scored a highlight reel-worthy goal by flicking the ball to himself and smashed a volley from distance.
CLB - Gyasi Zardes 88th minute: In the final minutes of play, Columbus forward Zardes tapped in a pass from midfielder Pedro Santos.
Key attacking plays:
CHI – Przemysław Frankowski 17th minute: After receiving the ball from Ignacio Aliseda on the right side of the 18-yard box, midfielder Przemysław Frankowski took a touch before driving a shot that went just wide.
CHI – Djordje Mihailović 53rd minute: Midfielder Djordje Mihailović took a right footed shot from the left side of the box that was saved by Andrew Tarbell.
Stops and key defensive plays:
CHI - Bobby Shuttleworth 41st minute: Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth was called upon to make his first save of the game in the 41st minute, a diving kick save off a strong shot from Etienne Jr.
Box score:
Chicago Fire FC 0:3 Columbus Crew SC
Scoring Summary:
COL - Etienne Jr (1) (Valenzuela 2, Williams 1) 20’
COL - Nagbe (1) (Zardes 1) 81’
COL - Zardes (5) (Santos 2, Nagbe 1) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Pineda (Caution) 29’
CHI - Calvo (Caution) 48’
COL - Valenzuela (Caution) 68’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Shuttleworth, D Sekulić, D Calvo ©, D Pineda (M Gutiérrez 82’), D Navarro, M Frankowski, M Mihailović (M Collier 61’), M Giménez, M Medrán (M Bronico 89’), F Berić, F Aliseda
Subs not used: GK Sparrow, D Omsberg, D Bornstein, D Reynolds II, M Herbers, M Azira
Shots: 11 Shots on goal: 3 Fouls: 17 Offsides: 0 Corners: 5 Possession: 45.5%
Columbus Crew SC: GK Tarbell, D Williams, D Valenzuela, D Mensah ©, D Afful, M Nagbe, M Santos (D Cadden 90’), M Artur, M Diaz (M Berhalter 66’), M Etienne Jr. (M Boateng 74’), F Zardes (F Adi 90’)
Subs not used: GK Lampson, D Keita, D Francis, M Jimenez, M Alashe
Shots: 9 Shots on goal: 4 Fouls: 12 Offsides: 2 Corners: 1 Possession: 54.5%
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Assistant Referees: Cory Richardson, Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein
Fourth Official: Lukasz Szpala
VAR: Sorin Stoica
