The Columbus Crew rattled off a second-straight road win in four days on Saturday night when the Black & Gold beat long-time rival Chicago Fire FC, 3-1, at Soldier Field. The Crew have won two-straight road wins for the first time since 2022 – and have won three-straight in Chicago, dating back to 2022.
But this year’s matchup at the historic venue didn’t have the dramatics as in recent years. There was no comeback or game-winners from midfield. Instead, the better team controlled the game and beat its opponent without too much fuss.
“They can do it,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said of Columbus playing well on the road. “It's true that last year I didn't like the spirit that when we were playing away - it was not the same spirit. It was not the same in the beginning. Towards the middle of the year and end of the year, we were good.
“Now, they try to play their game home or away. This is something that for me this is growth. This is something that has been better.”
Diego Rossi scored his second goal in as many games at the half-hour mark when he coolly volleyed a rebound from his initial shot. Including Concacaf Champions play, the Uruguayan playmaker has three goals in his last four matches.
Christian Ramirez doubled the scoring in the 55th minute through a wonderful play. After the visitors worked the ball into the Chicago box, Mohamed Farsi composed himself and whipped in a cross toward Ramirez, who towered over his defender and headed home the ball off the cross bar.
The Fire trimmed the deficit in the 85th minute, but Jacen Russell-Rowe killed off the potential Chicago comeback with a screaming volley just three minutes later.
First taking a touch to settle the ball, the Canadian forward unleashed a vicious left-footed strike for his third goal of the league campaign.
“I remember Malte [Amundsen] having the ball out wide and I was just kind of checking my shoulders making sure I was in the right space, and I felt like that ball was going to come to me next,” Russell-Rowe said of his goal. “And then it was just about, like getting a good first touch which I had, and then the goal is I just felt like going high, first post, and taking the chance there.”
With the win, the Black & Gold are seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with 21 points from 13 league games.
The Crew are in the midst of playing six-straight games away from Lower.com Field. The reigning champs return to action on Saturday night to face Orlando City SC. After that is the Concacaf Champions Cup Final on June 1 at CF Pachuca.
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