COLUMBUS, Ohio – No matter what Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas does with his team, the results are starting to always seem the same.
Despite three changes to his midfield since the team’s midweek win over the Colorado Rapids and injuries that felled two starters on Saturday night, the Fire came from behind to post a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew to extend their unbeaten streak in MLS play to five games.
They’ve now come from behind in five of their past seven games across all competitions.
“We gave up a PK early but I felt good in the game,” Klopas said. “Even after that, we had good confidence. We came into half time and we talked about it. The team never gives up.”
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In the second of of a three games in eight days, Klopas switched three midfield starters from the win over Colorado, opting to play Logan Pause, Daniel Paladini, and Joel Lindpere instead of Alex, Patrick Nyarko and Jeff Larentowicz.
Larentowicz eventually came on for Pause and was solid in the midfield after the Fire veteran went down with an injury midway through the first half, and Lindpere’s return from Estonian national team duty paid huge dividends. He assisted on both goals before he left the game with a hamstring injury in the 70th minute.
“When I have a chance, I like to cross it,” Lindpere said. “I'm not a big dribbler, so if I have a chance, I cross it and try to find my own player.”
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The Fire held the bulk of possession after Larentowicz entered in the 25th minute, and Chicago took over the flow of the game almost immediately in the second half.
“They're at home, they're fresh and we were traveled and had a game this week,” Larentowicz told MLSsoccer.com. “The first part of the first half, I think we were kind of behind the game, but in the second part we created chances. We came out with energy in the second half, and you could tell.”
