The Columbus Crew travel to take on the Chicago Fire for the second away match this week. During the midweek match Columbus finally seemed to wake from their MLS slump against a depleted CF Montreal, despite the absence of star forward Cucho Hernandez.

Saturday’s opponent, the Chicago Fire, has struggled this season despite bringing in a striker for 12 million dollars in Hugo Cuypers. Chicago averages slightly less than one goal per match while conceding nearly two goals per match. 

The Crew may still be without Hernandez as he was listed as questionable on the injury report due to a back injury. Head coach Wilfried Nancy said after the Montreal match that if they needed Hernandez to play, he could have been available. With a cup final looming in the distance, they are handling their star striker with care. Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe is listed as questionable as well with a knee injury. Goalkeeper Evan Bush remains sidelined with a wrist injury. Do not expect Nancy to risk players that are questionable in this match with Chicago struggling to get on the score sheet. 

Here is how Columbus could lineup:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte will start in this match. Schulte was called for a soft penalty in the last match and was subsequently scored on. While Montreal did not put many chances on frame, there were a couple opportunities Montreal had that were squandered. The Crew backstop has done better this year at dealing with aerial crosses, but improving communication with the backline should cut down on moments where it seems the Black & Gold fall asleep defensively. 

Utility man Sean Zawadzki will replace defender Rudy Camacho for this match. Zawadzki has grown comfortable in the backline and it seems Nancy wants to get him as much playing time as he can. Joining Zawadzki will be defenders Yevhen Cheberko and Steven Moreira.

Defender Malte Amundsen will start this match as the left wingback, a position the Crew originally acquired him to play. Nancy has been experimenting at the wingback position more it seems and Amundsen should bring more crossing abilities from the left flank position. Winger Max Arfsten will start as the right wingback, with two goals in two games he should continue to get chances, especially with wingback Mo Farsi coming back from an injury. 

This feels like a match where Nancy could try something different in the midfield, not for the full match but to rotate the veteran captain Darlington Nagbe for 60 minutes or so. Nagbe is fit enough that he could play the full 90 minutes, but rotation will allow Nancy to evaluate midfielder Derrick Jones a bit more while also giving midfielder Aidan Morris a chance to grow as a leader in this team. Nancy and the Crew would like to compete for every final this season, which if they can accomplish would be over 50 matches, load management even when a player is fit for a match will play a role in pivotal players being available for the more crucial matches. 

One reason Amundsen will get the start over Yaw Yeboah is that midfielder Alex Matan will get the start as the left-attacking player. Yeboah will occupy space wide but often wants to bring the ball towards the goal in possession, a trait that Matan shares, and while they have both started together plenty, it does seem like Nancy is still experimenting a bit in the wide positions.

Forward Christian Ramirez will start with both Hernandez and Russell-Rowe unlikely to start and Diego Rossi will round out the attack. This is the same starting lineup that saw success against Montreal. U22 forward Marino Hinestroza was an instant impact sub and could find himself starting.