The Black & Gold’s home opener against the Chicago Fire was an opportunity to shift the tide with the backing of home support and the spirit of “Crewsmas” in full swing. Following two road matches with one point between them, head coach Henrik Rydström hoped to execute and improve on disappointing results.

Despite recording 12 shots, with four on target, the Crew could not break the deadlock, ultimately splitting the 0-0 scoreline with the visitors. With the result, the Black & Gold gain a point, but drop from 8th to 9th in the Eastern Conference, remaining winless in three matches to open the 2026 MLS season.

The Black & Gold looked the stronger of the two sides in the first half, but struggled to execute threatening chances on goal.

Max Arfsten nearly gave the Black & Gold the go-ahead goal in the 24th minute. Malte Amundsen guided a left-footed cross into the penalty area from the left flank, catching Arfsten lurking into the six-yard box. Arfsten allowed the ball to cross his body over this left shoulder, before meeting it with the inside of his right foot, his effort ultimately directed too high and rising over the crossbar.

The visitors fired back in the 35th minute with a chance that exposed the Black & Gold’s back four. Chris Mueller strode into the six-yard box, pouncing on a pinpoint pass from Jonathan Bamba. Mueller dribbled expertly while closing in on Patrick Schulte, but his low, guided, righ-footed shot rolled just wide of the right post.

After the first 45′, the Black & Gold outnumbered the Fire in several key stats, including shots (6-1), expected goals (xG) (0.5-0.0), and corners (7-0), while maintaining 51.04% possession. Despite this, the Crew recorded only two shots on target, both of which were non-threatening headers directly from corners that flew straight into the gloves of Chris Brady.

The second half saw the Black & Gold continue where they left off. The Crew burst onto the scene in the 51st minute, sparking an opportunity that saw them bombard Brady and his back line with three successive shots, two of which forced a save from the goalkeeper. From the right flank, Herrera drilled a pass into the six-yard box that bounced around off players of both teams. Taha Habroune was the first to gain possession, his shot from nearly two-yards out being blocked by Brady on the ground. The rebound fell to Arfsten, who struck the ball powerfully with his right, but his shot was blocked by Dylan Borso, who stood defiantly on the goal line to deny entry. The ball ricocheted into the air, with Amar Sejdic running onto it to launch a final headed attempt, but Brady was quick to scoop up the chance.

In the 69th minute, Steven Moreira slid into action to deny Chicago once more from a close range. Bamba carried the ball confidently toward goal, drifting left around Schulte, with only a final touch needed to slot the ball home. But once the ball left his left boot, Moreira came swooping in, clearing the ball from the bottom left corner of the net in the final moment.

Just two minutes later, the visitors were on the front foot again. Robin Lod took off on the left flank, floating a lobbed ball into the 18-yard box. A fortunate bounce favored Borso, who drove his hit into the uncontested ball. The shot forced an instant acrobatic dive from Schulte, who was able to push the ball out with his left glove out of danger.

Schulte left a final, heroic mark on the match, saving a 1 vs 1 chance from the Fire at the death, and a point for the Crew in the process. Mbzekezeli Mbokazi broke through on the counter, chasing down a through ball from Maren Haile-Selassie. Mbokazi fired a right-footed shot at the middle of the net, but Schulte held his ground, clearing the chance off his left foot moments before the referee blew the whistle for full time.

Quiet along the forefront

The Fire delivered a disciplined defensive performance to neutralize the Columbus Crew’s most dangerous attacking duo, holding both Wessam Abou Ali and Diego Rossi off the scoresheet. Entering the match, the pair had accounted for every goal scored by Columbus this season, quickly establishing themselves as the club’s primary offensive threat. Chicago’s back line, however, limited space in the final third and forced the Crew into less dangerous areas, preventing Abou Ali’s movement in the box and cutting off the service that typically fuels Rossi’s attacking runs.

What’s next?

The Black & Gold host Nashville SC on Saturday, March 14. Kickoff from Scotts Miracle-Gro Field is at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match is available to stream on Apple TV.