Will Columbus Crew home-field advantage help them rebound vs. Chicago Fire?
Few MLS teams have the home-field advantage the Crew have at Lower.com Field.
The Crew are only one of four teams in MLS to have double-digit wins at their home stadium along with FC Cincinnati, the New England Revolution and St. Louis City FC — each of which are firmly in the MLS playoff hunt.
To Wilfried Nancy, that home-field advantage is a “no-brainer” heading into a home match against Chicago Fire FC Wednesday. All his players have to do, he said, is put on their Crew jerseys and do everything in their power to please the home fans.
But Nancy also knows that with that home-field advantage comes pressure, especially after a loss like the one the Crew had against Orlando City SC Saturday: giving up a two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes of regulation before allowing a last-second game-winning goal.
“For me, this is the balance of, yes, play at home: this is unbelievable, good crowd, good spirits, good pitch and everything,” Nancy said. “But again, the opposite team… the way they attack, maybe you have to be a little bit deeper, and we have to be clean and good technically to be able to find the space. Sometimes it’s not so easy to play at home.”
The Crew have lived up to that pressure throughout the 2023 season.
In 14 home games, the Crew have a plus-23 goal differential, scoring 35 goals compared to their opponents’ 12, including six shutouts. The Crew have not allowed an opponent to score a goal at Lower.com Field in an MLS regular season game since July 8 in a 1-1 tie against New York City FC.
The Crew’s only loss at Lower.com Field this season was a 2-1 loss to FC Miami April 29.
All Crew midfielder and captain Darlington Nagbe is looking for is for his team to respond as it continues to navigate the ups and downs of a regular season, knowing the team’s aspirations are further than just securing a playoff berth.
According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Crew has a less than 1% chance of missing the MLS playoffs, currently sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Crew’s best chance is making the playoffs as a fifth-seed, earning a first-round bye, while they also have a shot at becoming the fourth seed: getting a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the second round.
Those aspirations continue as the Crew return home.
“I think the team is always hungry,” Nagbe said “I think we’re at a stage now where, obviously, we want to make playoffs, but I think we’re looking a little beyond that, competing with ourselves and looking at it ‘What can we achieve this season as a group? What do we want to achieve?’ ”
Crew has not lost to Chicago Fire FC since 2021
The Crew have not lost to the Chicago Fire in more than two years.
The Crew’s last loss to the Fire was a 1-0 loss at Soldier Field, allowing the deciding goal in the 77th minute to midfielder Luka Stojanovic. Since then, the Crew have won three of four against Chicago, including a 2-1 victory June 10 which ended with a midfield goal by Lucas Zelarayan three minutes into stoppage time to secure the win.
Nancy sees a Fire team that is fighting for a playoff spot, currently occupying 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 16% chance of making the playoffs as a nine seed, per PlayoffStatus.com.
But Nancy’s approach does not change heading into Wednesday's match.
“We have to be ourselves,” Nancy said. “We have to respect the opponent. We have to play the way we want to play and stick to the process, stick to the task.
“I have no doubt that my team is going to give everything.”
How to watch Crew vs. Chicago Fire: TV schedule, streaming info
The Crew will host Chicago Fire FC at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The game will be available to stream for free on Apple TV.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew prepare for second meeting with Chicago Fire
