Story by
Diego Rossi boosts Columbus Crew to victory vs Chicago Fire in 2025 season opener: Replay
- Story by
- Diego Rossi boosts Columbus Crew to victory vs Chicago Fire in 2025 season opener: Replay
Crew striker Cucho Hernandez may be gone, but Columbus ' ability to score goals remained in it 4-2 victory vs the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
The matchup marked the Crew's first game of the 2025 season - and their first since transferring leading-scorer Hernandez to La Liga's Real Betis .
Advertisement
Diego Rossi , who was behind Hernandez in goals scored for the Crew last season, put Columbus on top, recording half the team's goals against Chicago.
During added stoppage time in the first half, Rossi scored off a header to pull the Crew ahead 3-2.
Just 5 minutes after the second half began, Rossi created his second goal when Chicago was forced to give away the ball by defender Malte Amundsen .
Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi (10) moves the ball past Chicago Fire FC forward Hugo Cuypers (9) during the first half of the MLS soccer match at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Feb. 22, 2025.
Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe was responsible for Columbus' first goal, capitalizing on a Chicago miscommunication within its own box.
Columbus was gifted its second goal due to Chicago defender Carlos Teran sent the ball into his own goal.
Advertisement
Midfielder Brian Gutierrez recorded both goals for Chicago in the first 25 minutes.
After facing former Crew coach Gregg Berhalter with Chicago, the Crew go on the road to face another former coach in the New England Revolution 's Caleb Porter on March 1.
Columbus Crew announce sellout crowd for 2025 season opener vs Chicago Fire
The announced attendance for the Crew vs Fire was 20,210 at Lower.com Field.
(83') Mo Farsi substituted out vs Chicago Fire
With the Crew's second substitution against the Fire, coach Wilfried Nancy replaced midfielder Mo Farsi with Andres Herrera.
(79') Malte Amundsen, Patrick Schulte keep Chicago Fire from record third goal vs Columbus Crew
The Fire got dangerously close to scoring within the Crew's box, first with a shot attempt from midfielder Omani Glasgow that defender Malte Amundsen blocked.
Advertisement
Amundsen's block ricocheted to midfielder Brian Gutierrez at the top of the box. Gutierrez sent a shot attempt of his own that goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made a diving save to stop.
(67') Aziel Jackson 's goal is overturned following VAR review
After a VAR review of Crew forward Aziel Jackson's goal, officials determined that midfielder Sean Zawadzki was offsides and the goal was called back.
The replay showed that Zawadzki was ahead of a Chicago defender when Jackson was finishing his shot attempt. The Crew's lead goes back to 4-2.
(63') Columbus Crew substitution Aziel Jackson scores, extending lead vs Chicago Fire 5-2
Crew forward Aziel Jackson was able to find the back of the goal just 4 minutes after entering the game, giving the Crew a 5-2 advantage.
Advertisement
Jackson was crashing in front of Chicago's goal when goalkeeper Christopher Brady saved an attempt from Sean Zawadzki. The ball was hit right to the feet of Jackson, and he capitalized.
(59') Columbus Crew makes first substitution vs Chicago Fire
Crew coach Wilfried Nancy made his first lineup move of the game, replacing forward Jacen Russell-Rowe with Aziel Jackson.
(59') Chicago Fire's Carlos Teran avoids red card for foul against Crew's Yevhen Cheberko
Officials went to a VAR review to determine if a foul charged to Chicago's Carlos Teran against Crew defender Yevhen Cheberko warranted a red card for violent conduct.
Advertisement
Teran fouled Cheberko on the right sideline, and Cheberko looked to hit his head on the ground, which led to him going through a quick concussion protocol on the field. Cheberko was cleared to play and Teran was given a yellow card.
(50') Diego Rossi scores second goal, Columbus Crew take 4-2 lead vs Chicago Fire
Diego Rossi secured his second goal of the night with a shot from the top, center of Chicago's box. The goal extended Columbus' lead to 4-2.
Crew defender Malte Amundsen battled the ball away from Chicago midfielder Philip Zinckernagel just ahead of Rossi up field. Once Amundsen was in control of the ball, he tapped to Rossi for his goal.
Columbus Crew ahead 3-2 vs Chicago Fire at halftime in MLS season opener
A Diego Rossi header pulled the Crew ahead right near the end of halftime. Jacen Russell-Rowe got the Crew on the board first, with Chicago gifting Columbus its second off an own goal.
Advertisement
Shots: Crew (5), Chicago (6)
Shots on goal: Crew (2), Chicago (4)
Goalkeeper saves: Crew (2), Chicago (0)
Fouls: Crew (1), Chicago (100)
Possession rate: Crew (63.2%), Chicago (36.8%)
(45+1') Diego Rossi pulls Columbus Crew ahead 3-2 vs Chicago Fire in first half extra time
Crew forward Diego Rossi was positioned directly in front of Chicago's goal when defender Steven Moreira sent a cross into Rossi.
Rossi easily found the pass and sent the ball in for a header goal, giving Columbus a 3-2 lead before halftime.
(44') Chicago Fire midfielder Philip Zinckernagel handed yellow card for Diego Rossi foul
The Fire's first yellow card came when midfielder Philip Zinckernagel fouled forward Diego Rossi on the right side of the field.
Advertisement
(38') Columbus Crew tied 2-2 vs Chicago following Fire's own goal
The Crew caught a break after falling behind 2-1 when Fire defender Carlos Tran recorded an own goal. Teran lost control of the ball near Chicago's goal, and goalkeeper Christopher Brady failed to grab it before it found the back of the net, tying the score 2-2.
(37') Diego Rossi earns first yellow card of the season vs Chicago Fire
Crew forward Diego Rossi was handed a yellow card after arguing with an official. This marks his first of the season and the first of the game.
Last season, Rossi recorded 4 yellow cards during the regular season.
Advertisement
(22') Chicago Fire take back advantage, ahead 2-1 vs Columbus Crew
Fire midfielder Brian Gutierrez was able to score two goals against the Crew in less than 25 minutes. Gutierrez scored from the left side of Columbus' box to get Chicago back ahead 2-1.
(20') Jacen Russell-Rowe scores, Columbus Crew tied 1-1 vs Chicago Fire
Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe took advantage of an error from Fire's goalkeeper Christopher Brady inside Chicago's box to score and tie the game 1-1.
Brady was sending a pass to midfielder Sergio Oregel when Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki came up and interfered, getting get Russell-Rowe the ball. Brady was out of position and Russell-Rowe scored on a nearly clear goal.
Advertisement
(13') Columbus Crew go down 1-0 vs Chicago Fire
Chicago midfielder Brian Gutierrez got Chicago on the board with a goal from above the right-center of the Crew's box, putting Columbus behind 1-0.
Midfielder Jonathan Bamba found Gutierrez on a cross for the assist.
Who are the referees for Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire?
Here are the officials for the Crew vs Chicago tonight:
-
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
-
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Bigelow
-
Assistant Referee 2: Jeffrey Swartzel
-
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
-
VAR: Sorin Stoica
-
Assistant VAR: Claudiu Badea
Chicago Fire starting lineup vs Columbus Crew
Here is the starting 11 for Chicago vs Columbus:
-
GK: Christopher Brady
-
DF: Jonathan Dean
-
DF: Jack Elliot
-
DF: Andrew Gutman
-
DF: Carlos Teran
-
MF: Jonathan Bamba
-
MF: Brian Gutierrez
-
MF: Sergio Oregel
-
MF: Kellyn Perry-Acosta
-
MF: Philip Zinckernagel
-
FW: Hugo Cuypers
Columbus Crew starting lineup vs Chicago Fire
Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Chicago:
-
GK: Patrick Schulte
-
DF: Malte Amundsen
-
DF: Yevhen Cheberko
-
DF: Steven Moreira
-
MF: Max Arfsten
-
MF: Mo Farsi
-
MF: Darlington Nagbe
-
MF: Sean Zawadzki
-
FW: Dylan Chambost
-
FW: Diego Rossi
-
FW: Jacen Russell-Rowe
Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire in 2024 MLS season
Last season, the Crew won their series against the Fire 2-0.
Advertisement
-
Columbus defeated Chicago 2-1 at Lower.com Field on March 9
-
Goals: Jacen Russell-Rowe (Columbus - 68'), Fabian Herbers (Chicago - 72'), Mo Farsi (Columbus - 100')
-
-
Columbus defeated Chicago 3-1 at Soldier Field in Chicago on May 18.
-
Goals: Diego Rossi (Columbus - 30'), Christian Ramirez (Columbus - 55'), Carlos Teran (Chicago - 85'), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Columbus - 88')
-
Columbus Crew overall record vs Chicago Fire
The Crew are 26-27-23 against Chicago Fire.
How to listen to Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire radio broadcast
The Crew vs. Chicago English-speaking radio broadcast will be on Alt 105.7 FM and available via the iHeartRadio app. Columbus' regular radio broadcaster Chris Doran will be on the call.
The Spanish radio broadcast can be found on La Grande 103.1 FM FM and the La Grande radio app with Juan Valladares doing play-by-play.
Jul 6, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi (10) celebrates scoring a goal during the second half of the MLS soccer match against Toronto FC at Lower.com Field. The Crew won 4-0.
Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire streaming information
The Crew-Chicago match will be streaming on Apple TV , with a required MLS Season Pass subscription. Here are the broadcast teams for tonight:
Advertisement
-
English broadcast: Steve Cangialosi (play-by-play), Danny Higginbotham (analyst)
-
Spanish broadcast: Bruno Vain (play-by-play), Andres Agulla (analyst)
When is the Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire 2025 MLS season opener?
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22 at Lower.com Field.
Get more Columbus Crew content by listening to our podcast
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire live MLS updates, score and highlights
