Massive Predictions: Columbus Crew SC at Chicago Fire

Just what Columbus Crew SC need coming off its first loss of the season. A trip to Bridgeview, Illinois, where the Black & Gold never seem to win.

The good news for Crew SC is the team is playing Major League Soccer’s second-worst team (aside from the Seattle Sounders) in the Chicago Fire. It’s been a disappointing start to 2018 for the Men in Red, who have one point through three games played.

Because this game is against Chicago, we brought back our resident Fire hater... Here are the Massive Report predictions for this week, plus a bonus.

Kris Landis

I haven’t seen a single F*re game this year. 3-1 Crew. Bridgeview sucks. Zardes, Pedro, and a Pipa wonder goal.

Patrick Murphy

With only three games to judge the Fire off, it’s hard to assess how good or bad Chicago is in 2018. Based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think the team in Bridgeview is very good.

With that said, I also know how terrible Crew SC tend to be in Chicago. After watching that second half performance last weekend, I just don’t know what to expect from this team, especially at Toyota Park.
Chicago Fire 2 Columbus Crew SC 1

Collin Johnson

It’s hard to be optimistic about Crew SC’s chances when they play a match on the road following one of their worst halves of the year. Luckily, the Black & Gold get to play Chicago, arguably the worst Eastern Conference team in this young MLS season. Chicago have the firepower of the ever-dangerous Nemanja Nikolic, but aside from the potent Hungarian striker, there is very little in the way of attacking threat for the Fire. Bastian Schweinsteiger is always a threat in the midfield, but he is yet to display the form he showed early in his MLS career.

If Columbus can resurrect their form from the first half of the Vancouver Whitecaps match they should easily be able to put out the Fire. But that’s easier said than done.
Columbus Crew SC 2 Chicago Fire 1

Sam Fahmi

Chicago. Toyota Park specifically. A place where Crew SC have not seen much success. So far, we have seen how this team can play it’s game for a full 90 minutes against Toronto FC, and ZERO minutes against Philadelphia. We have also seen it play inconsistently in the other games. How will this team rebound from a home loss it should not have endured? Can they break through against a Fire team that currently sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference?

It’s early in the season to judge Crew SC, or The Fire for that matter, so don’t take too much stock in the result. Toyota field continues to be tough to Columbus.
Columbus Crew SC 1 Chicago Fire 1

Guilherme Torres

This is a tough one to predict. The Fire’s downfall was somewhat predictable after David Accam’s departure and with Bastian Schweinsteiger one year older, but not many would expect them to have only one point at the bottom of the Eastern Conference after having two of their first three matches at home. That makes me think that eventually they will bounce back.

Despite last week’s frustrating setback, Crew SC has been solid in 2018 and, weirdly, the team had more consistent performances when playing on the road. I expect to see the Black & Gold playing with more energy this week, but the Fire have scored six goals in three matches and I expect them to be the first team to make the Crew concede on the road this season. But I can see the Black & Gold taking a point back to Ohio.
Columbus Crew SC 1 Chicago Fire 1

Ralph Schudel

Columbus looks to rebound after its first loss last Saturday and honestly this fixture couldn’t have come at a better time. Chicago is in shambles. The Fire are the cellar dwellers of the East, and appear unorganized, undisciplined and ill prepared. That being said Nemanja Nikolic and Brandon Vincent can still hurt teams if the opposition isn’t careful. A well disciplined Crew SC team walks out comfortably with a victory.
Columbus Crew SC 2 Chicago Fire 0

Patrick Guldan

Chicago has struggled on offense this year and hasn’t created much, but playing at home they’ve grounded out results. They’ll be playing a Crew SC team that has gotten some impressive results, but hasn’t been fluid and played a complete game. Both sides likely will struggle in the early spring cold to create offense. Defense likely will win the day.
Columbus Crew SC 1 Chicago Fire 1

Josh Mlot

I’m moving on from last week’s result. Vancouver is uniquely suited to both succeeding on the road and match up well against Columbus, so it’s not too hard to maintain a positive outlook moving forward at this point.

Chicago is a side that has been struggling in the early stretch of this season. There’s a long way to go, but there are legitimate questions about the Fire, namely about its defense and the void felt by the departure of David Accam. The Fire are not a team who is going to simply sit back and be happy to counter, especially at home, and paired with defensive/goaltending questions marks, it’s easy to picture the Black & Gold finding the back of the net in this one.

Nemanja Nikolic’s movement and finishing ability strikes fear and Bastian Schweinsteiger still has a few magic moments left in his legs, but not a whole lot about this team scares me. The Fire seem to have lost some of their mojo after taking a big step forward last year. Still, a road game is a road game, and that tempers my expectations a little, but what the hell.
Columbus Crew SC 2 Chicago Fire 1

Now it’s your turn. Let us know what you think the score will be this weekend.