That's it! Chicago wins 2-1!
2 minutes of extra time
86' : Chance for the Crew as an inviting ball is played in but nobody can get onto the cross.
80' : GOAL FOR COLUMBUS! IT'S 2-1!
79' : PENALTY TO COLUMBUS!
72' : Game is beginning to slow down a little as Chicago seems content to keep this lead.
56' : Chicago sees the ball go into the back of their own net but Justin Meram's shot gets deflected and called offside. Interesting call.
52': Colombus with a free-kick in a dangerous area but the shot goes way off target and goes out for a goal-kick.
49' : CHANCE! Igboananike sends in an inviting cross along the mouth of the goal but Accam can't get on to the end of it. Missed chance right there.
48' : Hector Jimenez sends in a cross into the box for Colombus but nobody gets on the end of it.
46' : We are underway for the 2nd half!
That's the half! Chicago leads 2-0!
45' : Colombus with a free-kick in a dangerous area but the shot goes way over the bar.
41' : Another chance for Chicago as Cocis nearly scores their third goal.
39' : Better play from the Crew but they aren't troubling Chicago keeper Matt Lampson at all.
37' : The Crew is trying to get back into this game with some sustained possession and they force a corner.
30' : GOAL FOR THE FIRE AGAIN! IT'S DAVID ACCAM AGAIN! RODRIGO RAMOS GAVE HIM A GREAT CROSS AND ACCAM MADE THE EASY FINISH.
25' : Igboananike has a go inside the box but it's easy save for Stuver.
19' : Cocis sees his header go just wide off a corner. There is a Colombus player down and it looks to be a head injury.
16' : Brandon Vincent has a go at exactly the same spot where Chicago just scored. Different result, however.
10' : Accam takes on 3 defenders but his shot goes just over the right post
8' : Goossens has a go from distance but it goes high over the bar.
7' : GOOOOAL FOR CHICAGO! IT'S DAVID ACCAM WHO GETS THINGS STARTED. HE SHIFTED INSIDE HIS DEFENDER AND SHOT A CURLER PAST THE KEEPER.
5' : Chicago forces a corner and goes short, but they aren't able to do anything with it.
4' : Lampson makes an easy save as Colombus get their first shot on target.
3' : Columbus force a corner but it's cleared away
1' : Here we go!
Starting XI for the Columbus Crew! Stuver, Parkhurst, Wahl, Francis, Barson, Tchani, Jimenez, Martinez, Saravia, Meram, Kamara
Lineups are out! Here is the starting XI for the Chicago Fire! Lampson, Ramos, Kappelhof, Campbell, Vincent, LaBrocca, Cocis, Stephens, Goossens, Igboananike, Accam
So that is the backstory to most of the game, we will have lineups and such when we get much closer to game time.
As of right now, the Crew only have two healthy strikers and two healthy center backs. Columbus saw one of their main facilitators on offense, Federico Higuain, undergo a sports hernia surgery. He will be out for five to seven weeks. His presence on the field will be missed especially when it comes to his playmaking and setting up his teammates to score. With Higuain out, Ola Kamara will probably be the go to guy on offense. With Kei Kamara traded away after a locker room incident involving the coaching staff and Higuain on a penalty, it’s now up to the other Kamara to step up. He along with veteran Conor Casey are the only two strikers that are healthy and if both play, they will have to make a huge impact. They will try to break down a Chicago defense that started the season out strong but has shown some signs of crumbling in the past month or so. The backline is beginning to look like the Fire of old with some of the goals they have given up. It will be a big test for this defense to try and stop Columbus's attack.
Meanwhile, it was an easier time for the Columbus Crew in their 4th round US Open Cup matchup. They also played an NASL side in the Tampa Bay Rowdies and it wasn’t even a close game. The Crew put 4 past their opponents and cruised into the next round. Unlike Chicago, the cup win seemed to help their league form. Columbus is now on a three game unbeaten streak coming into this game after two draws against the New York Red Bulls and the Montreal Impact. After spending some time at the beginning of the season in the last place, Columbus is making the journey back out of the cellar and is looking to pick up the form that got them to the MLS Final last season. It was a big drop off for them to go from title contenders to the bottom of the standings but injuries have derailed their effort along with poor play from key stars.
After that shootout win against Indy Eleven, Chicago proceeded to drop their next two games in the MLS. They lost 2-0 against Colorado, who sit atop the Western Conference table in 1st place. Then last week, the Fire took a shock 1-0 lead against Eastern Conference-leading the Philadelphia Union. Only to see the Union grab a quick equalizer. But Philly wasn’t done yet and proceeded to score three unanswered goals to make it 4-1. Chicago tried to desperately make a comeback but fell short of it with the final score being 4-3. Sitting in 10th and five points behind the next spot, things are looking bleak for Chicago. Although they have a game in hand, they have to pick up their form and right now it looks like they can’t.
Chicago had a big time scare in their 4th round matchup prior to this game. Against NASL side Indy Eleven, Chicago saw themselves go 1-0 down in extra time and all looked bleak. But then David Accam netted home a crucial equalizer with only minutes remaining to send the game into the vaunted penalty shootout. Backup goalie Matt Lampson made two crucial saves for the Fire to set up the game winning the penalty for Accam. It was a great penalty take as the winger smashed the ball into the top left corner and helped Chicago advance to the Round of 16. It was a battle but Chicago somehow prevailed. All thanks to the heroics of Accam and Lampson. It was a morale boosting win for Chicago but sadly it could not help them in league play.
This is a huge match for both teams as they will face off in the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup. Both teams have done poorly in league play with Columbus sitting 9th and Chicago sitting dead last in 10th on the table. It’s safe to say that a run to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup will certainly raise the spirits of the supporters around each club. But they have to win the game first if they want to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup. Chicago will be trying to replicate the run they had to the semi-final last year.
Hello, and welcome to VAVEL USA's live coverage of the Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL. My name is Vijay Vemu and I will be providing updates for you as well as coverage for the game. The match will start at 8:30 PM Eastern Time, so make sure to stay tuned here for updates.