DECISION DAY AT LOWER.COM FIELD (3:30 P.M. ET, BALLY SPORTS GREAT LAKES, 97.1 THE FAN)
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Sunday's home match against Chicago Fire FC begins at 3:30 p.m. ET and is set to be locally televised on Bally Sports Great Lakes and via stream on the Bally Sports App. Neil Sika, Jordan Angeli and Brett Hiltbrand are slated to have the call in English. Pre-match coverage will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Great Lakes. The match is also available in English on 1460 ESPN and streaming via "Listen Live" on 971TheFan.com, with Chris Doran calling the match. A Spanish audio stream is available on ColumbusCrew.com, with Juan Valladares on the call.Â
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
The two sides last met on August 15 of this season, when the Crew traveled to the Windy City to face Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. Fire midfielder Luka Stojanovic scored the match's only goal in the 77th minute to give Chicago a 1-0 win. The match marked midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr.'s 100th regular-season appearance in Major League Soccer.Â
CREW LOOKS TO CONTINUE HOME UNDEFEATED STREAK AGAINST CHICAGO FIRE FC
Entering Sunday's Decision Day contest against Chicago Fire FC, the Crew has a 11-match regular-season undefeated home streak against the Fire. The streak dates back to the 2013 MLS regular-season, when the Crew defeated Chicago Fire 3-0 at Historic Crew Stadium (September 21). Over that stretch, the Black & Gold have outscored Chicago 26-6. Forward Gyasi Zardes leads the Club in goals scored against the Fire over that span, having tallied five goals, including two braces.Â
COLUMBUS CREW PLAYOFF CLINCHING SCENARIOS ENTERING INTO DECISION DAYÂ
Entering into MLS Decision Day, Columbus Crew can clinch a spot in the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs if the following scenarios happen:Â
- Columbus Crew win vs. Chicago Fire FC ANDÂ
- New York Red Bulls lose vs. Nashville SC ANDÂ
- CF MontrĂ©al lose or tie vs. Orlando City SC ANDÂ
- D.C. United lose or tie vs. Toronto FC ANDÂ
- Columbus Crew win goal differential vs. New York Red BullsÂ
ZELARAYAN LEADS LEAGUE IN GOALS SCORED OUTSIDE OF THE 18-YARD BOXÂ
Through 33 matches of the 2021 MLS regular-season, midfielder Lucas Zelarayan currently leads MLS in goals scored outside of the 18-yard box, having scored eight goals from that area. In addition, the Crew is tied for first in the League in team goals scored from outside the 18-yard box, scoring 10 goals from the range.
BERRY AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN GOALS PER 90 MINUTESÂ
Through 33 weeks of MLS regular-season action, forward Miguel Berry currently has the third-highest goals per 90 minutes ratio among players with 500 minutes of action or more. Berry has played 753 minutes this year for the Crew, tallying seven goals.
