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The MLS regular season is back underway and Columbus Crew SC earned the team’s league-leading fifth win of the campaign on Thursday night at MAPFRE Stadium, downing the Chicago Fire 3-0. The Crew started and finished strong, with goals coming from Derrick Etienne Jr., Darlington Nagbe and Gyasi Zardes. While fans weren’t present for the game at MAPFRE Stadium, many still watched from home and celebrating the Black & Gold’s victory.
As always, fans were excited to get back to watching their favorite club.
Grilling my special chicken tikka for #MATCHDAY! #Crew96 #312ForCrew96 #CrewvFire #ChickenTikka pic.twitter.com/pccIFgvbQB
— Kunal (@kuzy1) August 20, 2020
It’s Matchday! Let’s “put out” the fire! #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/r24Hsh1eRC
— Gate 5 Collective (@G5CColumbus) August 20, 2020
Henry is ready for match day #Crew96 #Nordecke pic.twitter.com/0Py4eM8Lrr
— Jeffrey Barger (@TheFlaskandPen) August 20, 2020
So good to hear @jordangeli, @neilsika, & @brett_hiltbrand calling the match.
— Keith Naas (@knaas) August 20, 2020
Home cooking always helps. #Crew96
Watching @ColumbusCrewSC from the hospital tonight...hoping Baby Boy gets here in time to celebrate a #Crew96 win!
— Massive317 (@Massive317) August 20, 2020
There is soccer in Columbus, tonight.
— Eddie Johnson (@JEddieJohnson) August 20, 2020
Godspeed, #Crew96
Of course, many regular attenders found it strange to not be at MAPFRE Stadium for a hoome game.
Well the TV just confirmed my seats are empty. #crew96
— CrewFan (@ronjcar) August 20, 2020
It’s very weird watching @ColumbusCrewSC play at @MAPFREStadium on TV instead of in person. #crew96
— David Miller (@DavidMiller0789) August 20, 2020
First time I’ve watched a home crew match in 3 years from home. This is very weird. Let’s go boys! #crew96 pic.twitter.com/eixYdBJ17V
— Marisa Williams (@mwilliamscrew) August 20, 2020
The empty #Nordecke makes me sad. #Crew96
— Anthony Karcher (@TonyKarcher) August 20, 2020
In the 20th minute, Crew winger Derrick Etienne connected with a cross from left back Milton Valenzuela to score his first goal for the club and give Columbus a 1-0 lead. This brought joy to Crew Nation.
CURTAINS FOR THOSE COWARDS 1-0 #CREW96
— Astroheader (@Astroheader) August 20, 2020
ETIEEEEEEENE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!!! #Crew96
— Rich Uncle Skeleton (@lavatwin) August 20, 2020
We back baby!! Gooooallllllll!!!!!!! #Crew96
— Adam Kaverman (@FearTheNut11) August 20, 2020
@detienne_10!!!!! GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Andrew Johnson (@RatcalledAJ) August 21, 2020
I'm so happy. #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/S6z8cKchTf
Late in first half stoppage time, the Crew were awarded a penalty kick after Luis Diaz was taken down in the box. Gyasi Zardes stepped up to take the penalty, but skied it, keeping the score at 1-0 going into halftime.
This did not elicit the same reaction from Black & Gold fans.
I live 5 miles north of Mapfre Stadium and this just landed in my yard. #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/SigC1R2U0A
— Luke Johnston (@LukeShigeo) August 21, 2020
Oof. Someone better alert @NASA about that pk. #Crew96
— Jon Shecket (@jshecket) August 21, 2020
Glad to see @ColumbusCrewSC are investing in a space program #crew96
— Tony G. (@SliceOfTony) August 21, 2020
Good guy @gyasinho knowing we have this game and not sinking that PK to further embarrass the Fire. #Crew96
— Chris (@StepsFC) August 21, 2020
The second half was mostly uneventful until the 81st minute, when midfielder Darlington Nagbe showed how truly special he is, scoring from outside of the penalty box off of his own flick of the ball. You really have to see it to believe it.
Changing my name to Darlington after this #Crew96 https://t.co/yMz9aK3bWY
— Adam Miller™ (@TheAdamMiller01) August 21, 2020
Thats was straight NASTY! @darlingtonnagbe #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/yU9rRaGTE0
— Richard A Irwin Jr (@rirwinjr) August 21, 2020
OMG NAGBE BRO THAT BALL HAS A FAMILY. LAWD. #Crew96
— Alfred J. Sparky (@AlfredJSparky) August 21, 2020
Nagbe just called ballgame... #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/wYbZzXdejk
— Anderson’s Artillery (@cbj34anderson) August 21, 2020
Just checked my Twitter feed for independent verification that @darlingtonnagbe's goal was real life. #Crew96
— Steve Sirk (@stevesirk) August 21, 2020
There is not enough piped in crowd noise in the world for Darlington Nagbe right now. #Crew96
— Just Joey (@buckeyedinapoli) August 21, 2020
Nagbe, omfg. #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/hO8FuJ48U0
— Cody D (@CD_one3) August 21, 2020
Zardes went on to make up for his penalty miss, scoring in the 88th minute as the Crew expertly broke down Chicago’s backline.
Buenas noches. Way to get it back Gyasi. #crew96
— Gringa con Gatos y Máscaras y #BLM (@gringacongatos) August 21, 2020
GOAL!!! TEAM WORK MAKES A ZARDES TAP IN!!!! #Crew96
— Jordan Molnar (@JMolnar13) August 21, 2020
Little collabo between Darlington Nagbe and Gyasi Zardes on two late #Crew96 goals. Domination!
— John Bava III (@LWOSJohnBava) August 21, 2020
Easy money from Zardes. Columbus is BACK. #Crew96
— Ryan Exline (@iamironman21) August 21, 2020
With this win over the Fire, Columbus has won five of its first six games, the best start since the 2008 season. The Crew secured three points and remain top of the table in both the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings. Fans are understandably quite happy with the state of the club to star this strange 2020 MLS season.
@jordangeli and @neilsika are so good as a broadcast team. Just wanted that to be said.@ColumbusCrewSC #crew96 pic.twitter.com/qj21CAAeNb
— Andrew Johnson (@RatcalledAJ) August 21, 2020
Made the 4 year olds go to bed at halftime of #Crew96. One responded by singing “Glory to Columbus” in his room for 15 minutes straight. pic.twitter.com/qNnItmfKyy
— Charles Campisano (@C_Campisano) August 21, 2020
#Crew96 are so good. I don't care what kind of asterisk they try to put next to it, I'm going to love that supporters shield just as much when Columbus win it!
— John Clem (@JohnRClem) August 21, 2020
Remember a year ago when it felt like every #Crew96 game there were points lost through late defensive collapses?
— Matt Bernhardt (@bernhardtsoccer) August 21, 2020
Tonight #Crew96 played without their midfield virtuoso and starting goalie, their star striker sent a PK over the bar, and not a single fan was there to cheer them on, and they STILL won 3-0.
— Chris DeVille (@chrisdeville) August 21, 2020
You love to see it #Crew96 #CLBvCHI
— #3*1*CREW (@ThreeOneCrew) August 21, 2020
Bless the rains!! #Crew96
— Bob O'Shaughnessy (@oshaughnessy) August 21, 2020
Thanks for the love, wish we were there!#WiseMenSay #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/Auh6O1UbL2
— The Nordecke (@Nordecke) August 21, 2020
I leave you with this promise from one Crew fan.
@josh3williams if you score tonight or this season I’ll tattoo your namesake to my body
— TK (@DrunkenCrewzer) August 20, 2020