CHICAGO FIRE loses first match of the Season 2-4 against COLUMBUS CREW

Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Chicago Fire FC hits off the Season going against Columbus Crew.

The Fire started off the first half at full power working down the Crew. At the 13 minute, Brian Gutiérrez started off by scoring the first goal of the match, assisted by Jonathan Bamba in his First debut. The Crew returned 7 minutes later tying the match 1-1, with a goal from Jacen Russell-Rowe in minute 20. 2 minutes after the Crew tied the game, Brian Gutiérrez scored his second goal of the match with an assist from Jonathan Bamba making the score 2-1 against the Columbus Crew.

Columbus Crew continued to try and equalize the score before the first half ended. With a foul in play, the ball took some deflections until bouncing off Chicago Fire Carlos Terán, equalizing the score 2-2 on minute 38.

Soon after Columbus Crew took the lead in the remaining few minutes of play before halftime. Steven Moreira saw in opening closing in into the Fire, he again sent a cross towards Diego Rossi, who scored giving the home team a one-point lead against the Fire. 3-2 score (min 45’+1) before heading into halftime.

Five minutes starting the second half of the match, (min 50′) Columbus Crew was able to take into the Fire territory. With defender Malte Amundsen took the lead and fed Diego Rossi, who struck the ball away from Fire goalkeeper Brady and into the net, scoring the 4th Columbus Crew goal of the match.

Columbus Crew nearly added a fifth goal in the 63rd minute, before the VAR reviewed and disallowed the goal, keeping the score 4-2. Columbus Crew kept getting into Chicago Fire territory for the remainder of the match, but Chicago Fire dropped back reducing the opportunities and reducing further damage. With not enough time in play, Chicago Fire came to a loss, as home team Columbus Crew finish with their first win of 2025.

Goals:
CHI – Gutiérrez (1) 13’
CLB – Russell-Rowe (1) 20’
CHI – Gutiérrez (2) 22’
CLB – Terán (Own Goal) 37’
CLB – Rossi (1) 45+1’
CLB – Rossi (2) 50’

Discipline:
CHI – Oregel, Jr. (Yellow Card) 37’
CHI – Zinckernagel (Yellow Card) 43’
CHI – Gutiérrez (Yellow Card) 59’

Attendance: 20,210

Stadium: Lower.com Field

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: 1 – Andrew Bigelow, 2 – Jeffrey Swartzel
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Claudiu Badea

NEXT MATCH: CHI
– Chicago fire will face off D.C United.
When: March 1, 2025 Stadium: Soldier Field Time: 7:30pm

NEXT MATCH: CLB
– Columbus Crew will face off New England.
When: March 1, 2025 Stadium: Gillette Stadium Time: 6:30pm