Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire Match Analysis & Prediction
21/09/2023 2:30 am
Chicago Fire will be looking to snap their seven-game winless run when they make the trip to Lower.com Field to face Columbus Crew in the MLS on Thursday morning.
Wilfred Nancy’s side enter the match on a run of 13 straight MLS home games without defeat against the visitors since June 2013 and will look to continue in the same vein.
Columbus Crew were left disappointed at the Exploria Stadium on Sunday morning as they suffered a 4-3 defeat to Orlando City after bottling a two-goal lead in the final 18 minutes of the game.
The Crew have now lost two of their last three matches – with a 4-2 victory over CF Montreal on September 3 sandwiched between the two defeats – having lost just once in 11 games preceding that run.
This downturn in form has been due to their recent defensive frailties as they have shipped eight goals in the last three matches since picking up successive clean sheets against FC Cincinnati and Toronto FC respectively back in August.
However, Columbus Crew will be backing themselves to quickly find their feet as they now return home, where they are unbeaten in 13 of their 14 matches this year, claiming 10 wins and three draws so far.
With 45 points from 28 matches, Nancy’s side are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference standings but could potentially move into third place with all three points on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Chicago Fire finally stopped the rot as they held on for a goalless draw against Montreal at the Saputo Stadium on Sunday morning.
Prior to that, the Men in Red were on a dire run of six successive defeats across all competitions, including a 1-0 loss against Mexican side Club America in their Leagues Cup round-of-32 tie on August 5.
For all their recent struggles, Frank Klopas’ side currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, just three points behind Columbus Crew and two adrift of the final playoffs qualifier spot.
Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire Head to head
In the 80 previous meetings between these two teams, Columbus Crew have claimed 25 victories while Chicago Fire have won 31, and they have drawn in 31. Chicago have scored 109 goals and conceded 121 in the process.
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16/08/2021Chicago Fire1Columbus Crew0MLS
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07/11/2021Columbus Crew2Chicago Fire0MLS
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10/07/2022Chicago Fire2Columbus Crew3MLS
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04/09/2022Columbus Crew0Chicago Fire0MLS
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11/06/2023Chicago Fire1Columbus Crew2MLS
Columbus Crew Team News
Columbus Crew will be without the services of 23-year-old forward William Sands, who has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in April’s game against Charlotte FC.
With his goal and assist at the weekend, Cucho Hernandez now has 17 goal involvements in 21 league appearances this season, and he is expected to lead the attack, alongside Alexandru Matan and Diego Rossi.
Columbus Crew's Last 5 Matches
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21/08/2023Columbus Crew3Cincinnati0MLS
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27/08/2023Columbus Crew2Toronto0MLS
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31/08/2023Houston Dynamo2Columbus Crew0MLS
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03/09/2023Montreal2Columbus Crew4MLS
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17/09/2023Orlando City4Columbus Crew3MLS
Chicago Fire Team News
Chicago Fire will take to the pitch without the midfield duo of Victor Bezerra and 20-year-old Javier Casas, who are currently recovering from leg and arm injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club’s injury table by fellow midfielder Federico Navarro, who missed Sunday’s game against Montreal through injury, while Carlos Teran had been sidelined through a leg problem.
Chicago Fire's Last 5 Matches
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21/08/2023Chicago Fire1Orlando City3MLS
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27/08/2023LA Galaxy3Chicago Fire0MLS
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31/08/2023Chicago Fire0Vancouver Whitecaps1MLS
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03/09/2023DC United4Chicago Fire0MLS
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17/09/2023Montreal0Chicago Fire0MLS
Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire: Odds and Predictions
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