Game Thread: Columbus Crew SC at Chicago Fire

Full Time: Crew SC fall 1-0 to the Fire. The chances were there, but Columbus falls for the 2nd straight week.

83’ Offensive barrage from Crew SC doesn’t turn into a shot. No one there to redirect Afful’s stinging cross. Columbus still hunting.

77’ This time it’s Abu’s turn to ring the upright. His shot from distance beats the keeper, but can’t beat the post. Crew SC still trail 1-0.

76’ Hansen was sent in on the keeper, but the play was offside. Another chance that’s so close.

72’ Nearly a goal for Crew SC. Trapp, playing a bit higher sends in a beatiful flighted ball to Zardes. His shot rings the crossbar and stays out. That was the closest the Black & Gold have come.

65’ Hanson hits side netting and gets a corner. Valenzuela’s followup shot is another corner, the 9th on the night.

64’ Crew SC pressing for that tying goal. Yet another corner, but they are struggling to turn them into shots.

57’ Substitutions: Gregg Berhalter turns to the bench as he replaces Martinez and Artur for Hansen and Abu.

54’ Another Crew SC corner, but this time Higuain doesn’t even clear the 10 yard wall. Poor attempt.

53’ Crew SC get a corner as the offensive pressure piles up. Higuain’s cross pings out. The corner is cleared by the Fire.

47’ Artur picks up a yellow card as he pulls back Schweinsteiger. The free kick is cleared.

Halftime and Crew SC trail the Fire 1 to 0.

45’ Corner is taken short and intercepted with only Valenzuela back. The 19 year old snuffs out the chance with ease.

44’ Higuain has the next chance, but his shot is tipped over.

42’ Another Crew SC chance as Santos fires at goal, but gets caught on Zardes. His shot foes across goal and Williams barely misses the redirect.

34’ Higuain has a two on two bearing down on goal, but his pass to Zardes is easily cut out.

29’ Nearly another chance as Steffen gives one away. The Crew SC defense is stout and clears the danger.

27’ Goal Fire. Steffen receives a pass back and tries to find Trapp in front of his 18 yard box. Nemanja Nicolic easily intercepts and finishes. Crew SC trail 1-0 after so many good looks.

26’ Zardes has another chance after picking up a pass that ricochets off the Fire defense. He puts his clear shot right at the goalkeeper.

20’ Another Crew SC chance as Zardes turns Schweinsteiger and muscles him off the ball and is in on the keeper. His shot is blocked by a great recovery run from Ellis.

15’ Big chance for Crew SC as Higuain chips a ball into Artur. One on one with the keeper and he sends a chip wide. Zardes digs out the attempt and finds Martinez. His bending shot is just past the post.

4’ Valenzuela sends a shot wide of goal after a cross from Martinez. Crew SC countering quickly.

3’ Fire chance cut out by Steffen after a bad giveaway from Williams after a short goal kick.

1’ Kickoff between Crew SC and the Fire.

Lineups:

Injuries and Absences:

Crew SC: Rookie midfielder Luis Argudo, Eduardo Sosa, and Ricardo Clark are out with short term injuries. Mike Grella and Gaston Sauro remain out on long term injuries.

Chicago Fire: Djordje Mihailovic, Michael de Leeuw, and Jonathan Campbell are out with long term injuries. Jorge Corrales, Matt Polster, and Luis Solignac picked up injuries last month and are still out. Midfielder Daniel Johnson is questionable with lower back spasms.

How to watch:

Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018, 8:30 PM ET

Venue: Toyota Park (Bridgeview, Illinois)

TV: CW Columbus, Spectrum Sports, BCSN2

Radio: English: CD102.5 FM / ColumbusCrewSC.com Spanish: ColumbusCrewSC.com

Stream: Live.MLSSoccer.com