The Crew suffered their third home defeat of the season and at hands of Chicago with the players involved in the trade between the two clubs playing center stage.
Dominic Oduro came to Columbus in the trade and he’s been making a big impact so far this season. Tonight he continued in the center forward role despite the return of Jairo Arrieta from international duty and this paid dividends for the Crew.
On 6 minutes Oduro robbed Austin Berry of possession and raced clear on goal, but was brought down by the onrushing Sean Johnson in Chicago’s goal. He survived with only a yellow, but could do nothing about the resulting penalty that Federico Higuain dispatched low into the bottom left corner.
Columbus were playing some nice soccer in the first half with Matias Sanchez, Bernardo Anor, and Higuain combining well with quick passing carving up the Fire and Oduro’s pace causing their defense all sorts of problems.
The Crew started the second half slowly and were made to pay for it in the 51st minute by Dilly Duka, who left Columbus for Chicago in that trade. Joel Lindpere whipped in a cross from the left and Josh Williams did not pickup Duka’s run and he finished at the far post.
Unfortunately for the Crew, this goal did nothing to wake them up and the Fire’s second came in near identical fashion to the first. Lindpere again crossed from the left and the three Crew defenders were unable to pick up Mike Magee, who got the better of Williams to chest the ball into the net.
Columbus was struggling to stay in the game as more chances came for Chicago, but a couple of fine saves from Andy Gruenebaum kept them in the game. The response finally came from Columbus with Higuain the catalyst launching a 25 yard shot that was well saved by Johnson in the Fire goal. The crowed finally thought they had equalized in the 82nd minute when an Anor volley hit the outside of the post after neat interplay with Higuain.
The feeling at the end of this game is all too familiar for the Crew fans, in patches throughout the game they play some nice soccer, but when things go against them they struggle to find their composure to get back in these games. They are also struggling with impacts from their substitutions, with both Meram and Schoenfeld being regular introductions when they are losing, but neither has made a meaningful impact this season.
