Chicago Fire FC vs. Columbus Crew Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 8/15/21

Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew

Chicago Fire defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-1 on Sunday. Chicago's Luka Stojanovic scored two early goals in the 2nd and 8th minute of play and Chicago held New York scoreless until second-half stoppage time. Chicago snapped a winless streak of five matches with its victory at home over the Red Bulls. Chicago will play without Kenneth Kronholm, Javier Casas Jr. and Miguel Navarro, while Bobby Shuttleworth is questionable.

Columbus Crew suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss at home on Sunday to Atlanta United. It was Atlanta’s first victory in 12 consecutive matches. Scoring in the loss for Columbus Crew were Jonathan Mensah in the 37th minute and Pedro Santos in second half stoppage time. Columbus has lost three straight and has given up 11 goals over that stretch. Columbus will play without Aidan Morris, Artur, Milton Valenzuela and Perry Kitchen while Vito Wormgoor and Josh Williams are questionable.

Chicago Scoring Back on Track

Chicago is 11th in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with a record of 4-5-9, 17 points and a -9 goal difference. Chicago scored two goals in its victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday but had been held to one goal or less in each of its previous three matches. At home this season, Chicago is just average with four wins, five draws and three losses. The Fire have scored an average of only 1.25 goals per match in their last four matches at home.

Chicago is led in scoring by Luka Stojanovic with five goals and the midfielder scored a pair of goals on Sunday against Columbus Crew. The second leading goal scorer is Ignacio Aliseda with three. Alvaro Medran is the leader in assists for Chicago with 5 and Boris Sekulic has four. No. 1 keeper Bobby Shuttleworth is questionable for Chicago and in 17 appearances has allowed 27 goals.

Columbus Backline and Keepers Too Leaky

Columbus Crew has fallen to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 6-6-6, 24 points and a goal difference of -2. Columbus has lost each of its last three matches by a combined score of 11-5. The Crew this season has allowed only 23 goals, but 11 of those goals have come in the last three matches when prior to that, the Crew allowed just 12 goals through the first 15 matches.

The Columbus attack is averaging only 1.17 goals per match this season although the Crew has scored two goals in each of the last two matches but nonetheless lost both. Lucas Zelarayan is the leading goal scorer for Columbus Crew with 6, while Gyasi Zardes has scored four. Pedro Santos is the leader in assists with three and Zelarayan has two. Keeper Eloy Room has appeared in 16 matches for Columbus and allowed 21 goals.

Pick: Chicago Fire +110

Columbus Crew is having major problems in its back line and in goal, allowing an average of 3.67 goals per match over the last three fixtures in the MLS. Each of the last two matches played between these two in Chicago resulted in 2-2 draws, but the Fire snapped a five-match winless run on Sunday with a dominating 2-1 victory over New York and will carry that momentum into this fixture. Chicago held New York scoreless until late in second-half stoppage time. Columbus is having problems putting the ball in the net as the Crew has scored just 21 goals through 18 matches. Chicago will have extra incentive as the Fire was defeated on the road earlier this season by Columbus 2-0.

Total: over

Columbus Crew has allowed an average of 3.67 goals per match in each of the last three matches. The total has finished over the 2.5 goals threshold in seven of Chicago’s last nine matches. Columbus has seen the total finish over 2.5 goals in six of the last eight overall, with a total of five, six and five goals scored in each of the last three.

Promotional Summary:

The Chicago Fire look to take advantage of a leaky Columbus backline with a victory on Sunday when hosting the Crew.