Chicago Fire 2 - Columbus Crew 0: game in brief

The Columbus Crew's late-game skid continued on Friday night as the team lost 2-0 on the road to Chicago. Patrick Nyarko provided assists to both Peter Lowry and Brian McBride as the Chicago Fire celebrated the 13th anniversary of their unveiling as a franchise.

 

Coach Robert Warzycha made six changes to the starting lineup from Tuesday's Open Cup Final. Eric Brunner and Gino Padula replaced Andy Iro and Shaun Francis in the back, while in the midfield Adam Moffat and Robbie Rogers were favored over Kevin Burns and Emmanuel Ekpo. Andres Mendoza also earned his first league start. 

 

With the loss, the Crew's winless streak in league play reaches five games. Their last victory came on the road to DC United in early September, a result which left the team tied with Los Angeles for the best record in Major League Soccer. Since that day, the Crew have posted an 0-3-2 record with losses to the Galaxy, Sounders and Fire removing the team from contention for the Supporters Shield.

 

Columbus has two games remaining in which to regain their early-season momentum, or else they risk a second consecutive early exit from the post-season.

 

 

15' Kwame Watson-Siriboe replaces Dasan Robinson

25' Caution, Adam Moffat (reckless tackle)

37' Caution, Eric Brunner (foul tackle)

42' Caution, Steven Kinney

45' Kevin Burns replaces Adam Moffat

58' Caution, C.J. Brown

62' Emmanuel Ekpo replaces Eddie Gaven

77' Calen Carr replaces Patrick Nyarko

80' Steven Lenhart replaces Andres Mendoza

83' Baggio Husidic replaces Marco Pappa

87' Caution, Peter Lowry

 

 

Columbus Crew:

William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Eric Brunner, Gino Padula, Brian Carroll, Eddie Gaven (Emmanuel Ekpo 62'), Adam Moffat (Kevin Burns 45'), Robbie Rogers, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Andres Mendoza (Steven Lenhart 80')

 

Unused Subs:

Andy Gruenebaum, Andy Iro, Duncan Oughton, Jason Garey

 

Chicago Fire:

Andrew Dykstra, Dasan Robinson (Kwame Watson-Siriboe 15'), C.J. Brown, Bratislav Ristic, Steven Kinney, Logan Pause, Marco Pappa (Baggio Husidic 83'), Peter Lowry, Patrick Nyarko (Calen Carr 77'), Freddie Ljungberg, Brian McBride

 

Unused Subs:

Alec Duffy, Nery Castillo, Corben Bone, Collins John

 

 

Columbus will have an eight days off before their next game, the longest break they have had since early August. They will return to action on Saturday, October 16th at BMO Field in Toronto. The team's next home game will come in the regular season finale, Sunday October 24th against Philadelphia.

 

Chicago faces a quick turnaround, playing host to Kansas City this coming Tuesday as they chase an improbable dream of a playoff berth with three games remaining in their schedule.