*Today's match at Chicago Fire FC will be broadcast in Spanish on Univision/TUDN, and will be streamedin English on Twitter at @TUDNUSA. Live audio streams are available at 971thefan.com (English) and ColumbusCrewSC.com/liveaudio (Spanish).
Currently standing atop the Supporters' Shield race, Columbus Crew SC (7-1-2, 23 pts.) looks to become just the second team in MLS history to record nine shutouts in its first 11 regular-season matches as Columbus gets set to face off against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday at Soldier Field [3:30 p.m. ET / Univision, TUDN, Twitter (@TUDNUSA) / 97.1 The Fan & 971TheFan.com (English), ColumbusCrewSC.com (Spanish)].
Chicago (2-6-2, 8 pts.) is coming off a 2-1 home loss to the New England Revolution, while Crew SC handed FC Cincinnati their second #HellisReal defeat of the season, via 3-0 scoreline.
Columbus last met Chicago on Aug. 20 at MAPFRE Stadium and cruised to a 3-0 victory behind goals from Derrick Etienne Jr., Darlington Nagbe and Gyasi Zardes.
- WATCH | Etienne Jr. records first goal with Crew SC
- WATCH | Nagbe with a rip from distance
- WATCH | Zardes buries a quality build-up
Chicago Fire FC
The Fire suffered their first defeat in their new home stadium, done in by a Teal Bunbury brace as the Revs left the Windy City with a rare victory Sunday night. Chicago found the equalizer in the 22nd minute through Fabian Herbers, who was the beneficiary of a miscued strike from Miguel Navarro. And they had chances off set pieces early in the second half with the game level, but Boris Sekulic and Francisco Calvo were unable to put their headers on frame.
"Look, I'm sitting here again and I have to say the same thing, if we wouldn't create, if we wouldn't have a plan, if I wouldn't see that the guys are trying and actually playing well, I would have to doubt and I would have to say I question things," Fire FC coach Raphael Wicky said after the match. "That's not the case in my eyes, so I will have to say the same thing over: we have to keep working and keep believing in what we do. We are creating chances, we are a good team and we have to keep doing that."
Columbus Crew SC
Zardes struck for another brace against FC Cincinnati, increasing his goal total against them to seven, as Crew SC celebrated another Hell is Real victory. With Lucas Zelarayan picking up a knock in training during the week, Nagbe assumed the No. 10 role and excelled in that role, finishing with 100-percent passing accuracy.
Whether or not we see Zelarayan back in the Starting XI on Saturday, we know Nagbe's care for the ball will be second-to-none.
"I said it some time ago…for me, I call him General," Harrison Affulsaid of Nagbe. "He’s the boss on the ball and he takes good care of the ball. The ball is like his baby. Whenever we are in difficult spots, we just have to find him and give him the ball. With Darlington, I mean, I’m just proud and happy to be on the same team with him."
â–º HIGHLIGHTS | Last match vs. Chicago Fire FC
On the other side of the ball, goalkeeper Eloy Roomis approaching a Club record for consecutive shutout minutes. Room, who missed the last MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage match and the ensuing two regular-season matches, has not conceded a goal in 461 consecutive minutes, with the Club's individual goalkeeper record standing at 525 minutes (Steffen).
As big of a presence Room is between the pipes, the Black & Gold have conceded the fewest shots on goal by far with 27, six less than the next lowest total (Toronto FC - 33), as it continues to be a lesson in the power of the collective, according to Head Coach Caleb Porter.
"I think we do everything as a team. We defend as a team, we attack as a team. When you look at our group, I think what sets us apart is we have a true team concept," said Porter.
"We have every single player that defends, and they know their role defensively. We don’t drop off, we press high and we’re aggressive, which is why we don’t give up goals. It’s not because we drop in and play low block and try to protect our goal, it’s because we attack the opponent without the ball, and we do it with every single player."
