Crew SC took the reins and dictated play right from the onset off the Black & Gold's match in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Smart ball movement, creative attacking, and a bend-but-don’t-break defense led Columbus to its first road win of the season, defeating the Fire 1-0.
Crew SC experienced two substantial turnarounds this week: playing another road match just four days after taking on the Impact north of the border, and a turnaround in the box score. Here, we’ll take a closer look at those numbers to see how they affected the outcome.
6
First, a tip of our hat goes out to Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson. He made six saves, some of them exceptional, including his tip over the crossbar on Ethan Finlay's breakaway, and kept Chicago in the match until the final whistle. Johnson’s 6’3’’, 217-pound frame came in handy when he needed to lunge after Crew SC’s seven on-target attempts.
2 out of 8
Crew SC was able to limit Chicago’s opportunities throughout the night, especially during the first half. Only two of the Fire's eight shots made their way to Steve Clark, though Jason Johnson’s 81st-minute bender from outside of the box snaked its way through traffic and had a decent chance of finding the back of the net. Luckily for Crew SC, Clark was there when he needed to be, and the backline took care of the rest.
11 & 13
Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay are one of the most dynamic duos in the MLS, so it’s only appropriate their respective stats be grouped together. When Finlay lobbed up a cross into the middle of the box from the right side during the 41st minute, Kamara charged in and struck a powerful header to give Crew SC the match’s only score. The goal was Kamara’s 13th of the season, and the assist was Finlay’s 11th. Both players lead the League in their respective categories.
