COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 19, 2015) – The Chicago Fire (5-11-3, 18 points) fell 3-1 on the road against Columbus Crew SC (8-7-6, 30 points) on Sunday afternoon at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Facing their third of five games in a 15-day span, Fire head coach Frank Yallop made five changes to the side that faced Columbus on Wednesday evening at Toyota Park, including Ghanaian Designated Player David Accam, who started his first match since June 6.
Match Highlights | Postmatch Quotes
The hosts opened scoring in the second minute of play. Off the kickoff, Kei Kamara headed it forward to Ethan Finlay. Sean Johnson came out to challenge but was adjudged to have fouled Finlay, and referee Chris Penso pointed to the penalty spot. Federico Higuain stepped up and sent the penalty kick to Johnson’s right to give Columbus the lead.
The Fire would answer back just seven minutes later when Jason Johnson was fouled just outside the Columbus 18-yard box. Accam stepped up to the ensuing free kick and blasted his right-footed shot through the Columbus wall. The ball took a slight deflection off a Crew SC defender and into goal for the equalizer.
Columbus regained the lead in the 17th minute. The ball fell to Waylon Francis on the right side of Sean Johnson’s penalty area, who took a touch and lofted a cross to Kamara on the far post to head in for the 2-1 lead.
The Fire were reduced to ten men in the 50th minute. Jason Johnson, who picked up a yellow card in the 35th minute for a foul, was shown his second yellow of the match for what was judged to be simulation.
Columbus got their third of the afternoon in the 83rd minute when Finlay latched on to a ball from Chad Barson on the far post and finished.
In the 84th minute, rookie Homegrown midfielder Collin Fernandez made his first team debut when he entered the match for fellow Homegrown midfielder Harry Shipp, marking the fifth time in Fire history and the second time this season that a Homegrown product appeared for the first team.
Next up, the Fire host Orlando City SC in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Toyota Park on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the match are available via Ticketmaster or by calling 888-MLS-FIRE.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (5-11-3, 18 pts.) 1:3 Columbus Crew SC (8-7-6, 30 pts.)
July 19, 2015 – MAPFRE Stadium
Attendance: 15,455
Scoring Summary:
CLB – Federico Higuain (penalty kick) 2’
CHI – David Accam (unassisted) 9’
CLB – Kei Kamara (Waylon Francis) 17’
CLB – Ethan Finlay (Chad Barson) 83’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Jason Johnson (caution) 35’
CHI – Adailton (caution) 45 +1’
CHI – Jason Johnson (caution, ejection) 50’
CLB – Tony Tchani (caution) 53’
CLB – Federico Higuain (caution) 65’
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Matt Polster, Eric Gehrig, Adailton, Patrick Doody; Patrick Nyarko (Guly do Prado 70’), Matthew Watson, Razvan Cocis ©, David Accam (Kennedy Igboananike 71’); Harry Shipp (Collin Fernandez 84’), Jason Johnson
Subs not used: Jon Busch, Michael Stephens, Kingsley Bryce, Greg Cochrane
Shots: 9; Shots On Goal: 2; Saves: 3; Fouls: 7; Corner Kicks: 0; Offsides: 3.
Columbus Crew SC: Steve Clark; Tyson Wahl, Michael Parkhurst ©, Waylon Francis, Chris Klute (Chad Barson 72’), Ethan Finlay, Wil Trapp, Justin Meram (Kristinn Steindorsson 81’), Tony Tchani (Mohammed Saeid 55’), Federico Higuain, Kei Kamara
Subs not used: Aaron Schoenfeld, Cedrick, Emanuel Pogatetz, Brad Stuver
Shots: 13; Shots On Goal: 6; Saves: 3; Fouls: 23; Corner Kicks: 3; Offsides: 6.
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistants: Jeff Muschik, Scott Kachmarik
Fourth official: Alex Chilowicz
