CHICAGO — The Crew hadn’t felt the anger and frustration that came with a 2-0 deficit at halftime against the worst team in MLS in more than a month. All the fury burning inside the Soldier Field locker room on Saturday came from knowing that they were much better than what they had displayed through 45 minutes.

There was also a strong sense of belief and resilience that was perhaps exhibited most from the three attacking players who entered as substitutes and the team’s best chance creator in just over 20 minutes to pull off a stunning 3-2 comeback win against the Chicago Fire.

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To extend their unbeaten streak to six games, a change in mentality was the minimum that was required to get a draw after a miserable first-half performance. It also took season-best performances and a willingness to try something completely different.

"There were some hard words at halftime, also for me but also for other guys. It wasn't good enough,” goalkeeper Eloy Room said. “We cannot start the game like that. We know we can do better. We also said we can come back from this. We knew we can win this game. That was the mentality, and I think that helped us.”

The Crew allowed two first-half goals to a team that had scored only 16 goals in 18 games. Though center back Miloš Degenek was out with a hamstring injury, it was the entire team defense that struggled. The Fire’s expected goals value (xG) of 2.16 was the most the Crew conceded in a game since May 14.

Coach Caleb Porter scrapped his 3-5-2 lineup and went back to his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, taking out defender Jalil Anibaba and defensive midfielder Sean Zawadzki for two wingers who would give the Crew some pace on the outside.

Almost immediately, the Crew began dictating tempo better. Once the Crew’s club-record signing Cucho Hernandez entered the game in the 62nd minute, the attack jumped into full gear.

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The three substitutes — Derrick Etienne Jr., Luis Diaz and Hernandez — combined for three goals and two assists with the other assist going to Lucas Zelarayan on Etienne’s first goal in the 64th minute.

Porter said the halftime message was to find the next goal. He expected Chicago to get rattled because it had given up leads throughout the season. The Crew also felt confident they could come back in games and find at least a draw away from home.

Porter and the players talked about how they were in the exact same situation on the same field in 2020 and ended up with a 2-2 draw.

"It's nothing I said or did. It's just their attitude after (halftime),” Porter said. “I can talk at halftime, but unless it resonates and unless they go out and grab the bull by the horns and take initiative, then nothing matters. All the credit goes to the players."

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When Porter put in Etienne and Diaz to move to a 4-2-3-1, Zelarayan immediately had more space and attacking options around him. In the first half, Chicago disrupted the Crew’s back line with its press. When the ball reached Zelarayan or forward Jacen Russell-Rowe, Chicago would limit the space they had to operate.

When Hernandez entered, the Fire couldn’t cope with the speed of the Crew’s attack. The Crew had a 0.39xG before Hernandez entered, and a 1.36xG with him on the field.

“When I turn, I had Derrick, Luis and Jacen, then Cucho,” Zelarayan said. “For me, I feel much better in that system. I think that was the key.”

Etienne and Diaz turned in their best performances this season. Etienne had been quietly having a good season, but he had missed some chances. Both of his finishes on Saturday were incredibly precise. He also started the action on his second goal — the first multi-goal game of his MLS career — by getting through three Fire attackers before finding Zelarayan in the middle of the field.

Diaz's playing time has dwindled since getting a start early in the season. He has struggled with his decision-making and crossing. 

Zelarayan was more comfortable with wingers around him. But the Crew were getting results with the 3-5-2. Zelarayan understands sometimes that might be best, and he said he likes that the team can play multiple formations. 

"I think it depends on the team,” he said. “Today, I think they press really well in the first half. We didn't get space. It was difficult for me and Jacen to get spaces and create some chances. But last week against Philly, that system, I think, worked well. So, it's different and depend on the rival. For me, in my opinion, we play much better in 4-2-3-1.” 

The system and mentality changes saved the Crew from defeat. The 4-2-3-1 formation might not be the best option every game, Porter said, but it worked Saturday because of the players.

“It wasn't working what we were doing,” Porter said. “For me, in the comeback and the win, we have to learn from the first half — players, myself, everyone — because it wasn't a good half. But we also didn't sit there at halftime and we weren't stubborn. We said, ‘Let's change it. Let's go 4-2-3-1, put natural wingers in the game.’ But listen, if we change 4-2-3-1 and the players who come into the game don't play well, then it doesn't matter.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew changed formations in comeback vs. Chicago Fire