Columbus Crew break one-goal streak, beat Chicago Fire FC 2-1
Through three games, Wilfried Nancy made it clear he was not worried about the Crew’s lack of offensive production.
The opportunities were there, the Crew coach said. The opportunities were coming “from everyone” despite three goals scored in three games. Nancy said all that separated the Crew from its potential on offense was “execution.”
“It’s going to come,” Nancy said Thursday.
The execution came late for the Crew (2-0-1) Saturday night. Mohamed Farsi scored the game-winning goal 10 minutes into extra time off a pass from Diego Rossi to secure the 2-1 victory against Chicago Fire FC (0-2-1) at Lower.com Field.
"Like I like to say, the game is dynamic," Nancy said after the game Saturday. "This game was the best game since the beginning of the season because it was difficult... The spirit that we had was spot on."
Farsi, who checked in for Max Arfsten in the 68th minute, scored his first goal since April 26, 2023 in the U.S. Open Cup against the Indianapolis Eleven. Saturday's goal was his first in an MLS game.
"It's unbelievable," Farsi said. "Finally, yeah? But better late than never, yeah? Very happy. Very happy to get my first goal. Hopefully it's the first of many. I'm going to keep working hard. But at the end of the day, I just want to help the team to win."
At 99:45, Farsi's goal is the latest game-winning goal in regulation in MLS regular-season game history.
Farsi missed the Crew's second match against Minnesota United with an ankle injury, but returned against the Dynamo Wednesday. Farsi said after the game he is not at 100%, but said he is progressing.
Saturday's win was the Crew's first game of the 2024 season with multiple goals. The win was the Crew's first multi-goal game since their MLS Cup Final win against Los Angeles Football Club Dec. 9.
Checking in for Marino Hinestroza in the 59th minute, Jacen Russell-Rowe broke the seal of the Crew offense with a deep right-footed shot outside the box for his first goal of the season off a pass from Malte Amundsen.
Six minutes later, Fire forward Fabian Herbers tied the game from the center of the box. While a referee initially called the goal offside, VAR confirmed the score.
Russell-Rowe nearly secured a multi-goal game off a pass from Rossi in extra time. But the goal was called offsides. Nevertheless, Russell-Rowe said he and the rest of the offense did not show panic.
"We didn't have a goal and it was 0-0 60th minute, and we just had to stay focused," Russell-Rowe said. "And even at 1-1, we felt it was our game to lose. The opportunities were coming. They came, and we were able to put them away this time."
The Crew finished with 17 shots, 10 of which were on target, while holding 62.3% of possession.
The Crew held possession for more than 62% of the first half, but mustered five shots, two of which were on target and two of which were blocked. Nancy said the Fire's defensive approach was like many other teams the Crew had seen in their press and aggressiveness.
In the second half, Nancy said he began to see a rhythm of play, one that turned into eight shots-on-target including three scoring chances in the first two minutes by Rossi, Cucho Hernandez and Aidan Morris.
"Like I told them often, it could happen that we don't have the connection that we usually have," Nancy said. "But the most important is to find a way to get back to what we like to do. In the first half, at certain points, they did it. Second half, we started to get the rhythm. And after that, we were more connected."
Derrick Jones Jr. made his debut for the Crew Saturday night after he signed with the team in December. He entered the game for Rudy Camacho in the 86th minute, and played four minutes.
The Crew were without Alex Matan against the Fire Saturday. Matan was ruled out with a thigh injury after playing 12 minutes and securing the game-winning goal against the Dynamo Wednesday. Nancy did not have an update on Matan after Saturday's win.
The Crew will return to CONCACAF Champions Cup play against the Houston Dynamo Tuesday at Lower.com Field.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew beat Chicago Fire FC 2-1
