It was business as usual for Columbus Crew SC as the usual suspects of Kai Kamara and Ethan Finlay put Chicago Fire to the sword for the second time this week as the home team ran out 3-1 during Sunday’s football matinee at MAPFRE Stadium.
The game started off in almost comical fashion as Crew SC were awarded a penalty within the first 20 seconds as Chicago ‘keeper Sean Johnson cut down Finlay and the Crew SC assist-machine found himself free inside the box.
Federico Higuain calmly dispatched the penalty kick that turned out to be the earliest in MLS history. Useless knowledge that may come in handy at a later date.
The Crew’s recent run of conceding early goals continued just a few minutes later when a deflected free-kick from David Accam send Crew SC goal keeper Steve Clark the wrong way as the ball hit the back of the net.
It didn’t take much longer for Crew SC to regain the lead. Kai Kamara again showed just how much the rest of the league seems to fear him as the lanky forward somehow leaped up in front of a petrified looking Sean Johnson to put the Crew up 3-1.
The second half started with a slightly strange call that changed the game. Jason Johnson tried to collect the ball in the Crew SC box before doing a very strange dive that the referee decided was worthy of a yellow card, giving the Chicago player his second booking and his marching orders.
Columbus Crew SC sealed the win in the 83rd minute when MLS Allstar snub Finlay poked the ball past Johnson after finding himself in the right place at the right time yet again.
The win puts the Crew second in the Eastern Conference with 30 points and next play at MAPFRE stadium on Saturday against Toronto FC.
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Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.