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Crew-Fire Preview

Sep 19, 2009 - 6:43 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Columbus (11-4-9) at Chicago (10-6-9), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The top of MLS' Eastern Conference could have a much different look after this weekend.

The first-place Columbus Crew look to open a commanding lead in the conference, while the Chicago Fire try to move into a tie atop the standings when they meet Sunday at Toyota Park.

The Crew (11-4-9) and Fire (10-6-9) finished first and second, respectively, in the East a year ago, and the clubs appear poised to secure those top two spots again this season.

With 42 points, Columbus leads Chicago by three and has a match in hand on the Fire with six to play.

The Crew can move closer to locking up the top spot by taking a six-point lead over the Fire with a victory in their final meeting of the season. While a loss would significantly hurt Chicago's hopes of finishing with the conference's best record, a victory would move it into a first-place tie.

"We'll get a good game plan ready for them," coach Denis Hamlett told the Fire's official Web site following last Saturday's 1-all draw with Real Salt Lake. "There's a lot on the line."

Although the Crew defeated the Fire 2-1 in last season's conference championship en route to winning the MLS Cup, they haven't had much luck in beating them in the regular season, going 1-3-7 since 2006.

Columbus played the Fire to a 2-all draw at home April 25 and to a scoreless tie at Toyota Park on July 11.

The Crew have been on a roll lately, winning six of seven league games.

Columbus defeated West-leading Houston 2-1 last Sunday in a match that ended with a little controversy.

Referee Jorge Gonzalez called a penalty on Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron after he knocked over Crew forward Alejandro Moreno in the penalty box in the final moment of regular time. Eddie Gaven took the penalty kick and scored the winner in stoppage time.

While Columbus celebrated the victory, Dynamo players argued with Gonzalez. Then in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms under Crew Stadium, Houston coach Dominic Kinnear got in a brief verbal exchange with reigning league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

"We won. That is more important, not what is said by the Houston coach," Schelotto told the Crew's official Web site. "It's his problem, not my problem. We played very good, better than them and we won."

The Fire are 1-2-1 since Aug. 19 and are hoping forward Brian McBride can be more of a factor this week.

McBride started and played 73 minutes against Salt Lake after missing eight league games following shoulder surgery. Despite missing two months, he's still tied with Chris Rolfe for the team lead with six goals.

"I'm happy to be back, but there was some rust," said McBride, who had a goal against the Crew in April. "There's room for improvement."