Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire
2017 MLS Regular Season
MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, August 12 – 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE
After breaking their two-game mini-skid with a 4-1 win against the New England Revolution on Saturday, the second-place Chicago Fire will look to keep pace atop the Supporters’ Shield race with a win on Saturday at Midwestern rivals Columbus Crew SC.
The Black-and-Gold enter this weekend’s contest in sixth in the East, just two points ahead of Orlando and coming off of a three-game road trip in which they went winless. While they're not in a great run of form, Columbus may get a bump from the arrival of new Designated PlayerPedro Santos, who was signed from Portuguese club Sporting Braga on Tuesday, though head coach Gregg Berhalter says his debut may be a couple weeks away while the club waits for Santos' visa.
Columbus Crew SC
- Suspended: None
- Int’l Duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: Gaston Sauro (left PCL surgery), M Ben Swanson (right ankle surgery); QUESTIONABLE: M Federico Higuain (right knee sprain), D Harrison Afful (right thigh strain)
Projected Starting XI
(3-4-3, left to right)
GK: Zack Steffen – Nicolai Naess, Alex Crognale, Jonathan Mensah – Jukka Raitala, Wil Trapp, Artur, Hector Jimenez – Justin Meram, Ola Kamara, Kekuta Manneh
Notes: Crew SC are unbeaten at home against Chicago in their last six meetings with the Fire at MAPFRE Stadium (4-0-2). They’ve scored multiple goals in five of those six games.
Chicago Fire
- Suspended: None
- Int’l Duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: M John Goossens (right ankle surgery), GK Jorge Bava (left elbow tendinitis), D Brandon Vincent (quad strain)
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, left to right)
GK: Matt Lampson – Patrick Doody, Joao Meira, Johan Kappelhof, Matt Polster – Juninho, Dax McCarty, Bastian Schweinsteiger – Michael de Leeuw, Nemanja Nikolic, David Accam
Notes: Chicago have allowed multiple goals in all five of their road losses this season. Last season they allowed multiple goals in 10 of their 14 road losses.
All-Time Series
Chicago have an edge in the all-time series between the sides, and hold a 1-0-1 record against Crew SC in 2017.
- Overall: Columbus 17 wins (83 goals); Chicago 25 wins (88 goals); 17 draws
- At Columbus: Columbus 11 wins (47 goals); Chicago 10 wins (41 goals); 7 draws
Referees
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Kevin Klinger
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
VAR: Hilario Grajeda
