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Columbus Crew, Fresh off Ending Slide, Face Struggling Fire
Introduction
The Columbus Crew are looking to build on a much-needed win and take advantage of a struggling opponent for the second match in a row when they play the Chicago Fire on Saturday. The Crew (4-2-6, 18 points) snapped their own winless streak with a 3-1 victory over CF Montreal on Wednesday, extending Montreal’s winless run to five matches.
Columbus Crew’s Recent Performance
Boosting Confidence
The match against Montreal was the first of five straight on the road, where the Crew are 1-1-3. “It was a massive result for us confidence-wise and otherwise, because we have a hard stretch of games coming up,” Crew midfielder Max Arfsten said. “We have away Chicago and then away Orlando, so our mentality is just no matter what happens, we have to react in the right way.”
Chicago Fire’s Recent Performance
Struggling to Find Form
The Fire (2-7-4, 10 points) are in an even tougher spot than Montreal. A 1-0 home loss to Charlotte FC on Wednesday put them at 0-4-2 in their past six matches since April 6, leaving coach Frank Klopas searching for answers. “The only thing I can tell you is, we have to keep trying,” he said. “But right now, the team is really, you know, the confidence level is really low. And you can just see that nothing’s really working for us.”
Klopas emphasized the responsibility he feels to turn things around. “We just haven’t found the right formula and it’s a lot on my shoulders. It’s on my shoulders to find that. And when it’s not going right, it does sit at home more and more emotionally because of how I feel about the club.”
Key Players and Injuries
Columbus Crew
The Crew have reasons to feel optimistic, especially since they scored three goals against Montreal while their leading scorer Cucho Hernandez stayed back in Columbus to rest a sore back. Coach Wilfried Nancy said Hernandez might be available on Saturday. Diego Rossi was one of the players to step up, scoring his first MLS goal of the season. “I think I help the team in other ways,” Rossi said. “The most important thing is the team, in this case, that we will get the win. It doesn’t matter who scores the goal or who assists.”
Chicago Fire
Hugo Cuypers and Brian Gutierrez share the team lead for Chicago with three goals each. The Fire will need strong performances from these players to overcome their current slump and secure a much-needed victory.
Future Implications
Maintaining Momentum
As the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire prepare for their clash, both teams have different motivations. The Crew aim to build on their recent victory and continue their upward trajectory, while the Fire look to break their winless streak and regain confidence.
Conclusion
With the Columbus Crew looking to maintain their momentum and the Chicago Fire desperate for a turnaround, Saturday’s match promises to be a crucial encounter for both teams. Key players’ performances and strategic adjustments will be essential as they vie for much-needed points in the standings.
