One game in 100 words: Calling this match a tale of two halves is fair by purely looking at the scoreboard. Two goals for the Crew in the first half. Two goals for the Fire in the second half. The resilience of Chicago was apparent when they came out in the last 45 minutes and looked determined to convert two consecutive scores, especially in the waning stoppage time minutes as Frank Yallop’s side absolutely dominated possession (nearly at 77 percent). Columbus is now two points behind the New York Red Bulls, the Eastern Conference’s third-place squad. At sixth place in the East, the Fire are situated one point above Toronto FC.
Goals
Columbus: Kei Kamara 8', 55'
Chicago: David Accam 58', Jason Johnson 90'+4'
Three moments that mattered
55’ — Kamara’s second for considerable 2-0 lead — Federico Higuain calmly set up this goal from a corner kick, curling his ball to the near post for Kevan George to leap and meet with his head. It wasn’t George who would convert it; his header skidded across the face of goal directly to Kei Kamara on the edge of the six-yard box. A simple headed finish capped the former Sporting KC man’s second goal of the match.
58’ — Accam capitalizes on deflection — Call it luck, but the Fire began to show some bite on the attacking end and were awarded for their endeavors with this goal. Forward Kennedy Igboananike trotted forward on his own through the Crew defense before reaching the end line and attempting to hit a clean cross toward frame. His effort deflected off the foot of defender Michael Parkhurst and looped over Emanuel Pogatetz, right to the head of David Accam for the close-range goal.
90’+4’ — Gehrig to Johnson levels it late — Fire defender Eric Gehrig sat just outside the box with space and time to aim his cross perfectly for substitute midfielder Jason Johnson. The Jamacian was far back in the penalty area, but he wound up and applied power to his header, which took one bounce and slipped past goalie Steve Clark for the late-gasp equalizer.
Lineups
Columbus: Kei Kamara (Aaron Schoenfeld 90'+1'); Steve Clark; Chris Klute, Michael Parkhurst, Emanuel Pogatetz, Waylon Francis; Tony Tchani, Kevan George, Ethan Finlay (Kristinn Steindórsson 75'), Federico Higuain (Ben Speas 87'), Justin Meram
Chicago: Kennedy Igboananike (Guly 83'); Jon Busch, Eric Gehrig, Jeff Larentowicz, Adailton, Joevin Jones, Razvan Cocis (Quincy Amarikwa 71'), Matt Polster, Harrison Shipp (Jason Johnson 67’), Shaun Maloney, David Accam