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Fire hope to remain unbeaten vs. Crew

Apr 24, 2009 - 5:55 PM By Dan Pieringer Stats Writer

Chicago (2-0-3) at Columbus (0-2-3), 7:00 p.m. EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Columbus Crew got the better of the Chicago Fire in last season's Eastern Conference championship before going on to win their first MLS Cup.

Early in the 2009 season, Chicago appears more likely to advance deep into the playoffs again.

The Fire look to continue the longest unbeaten start in franchise history Saturday night as they visit a Crew club still looking for its first win of the year.

Columbus got second-half goals from Chad Marshall and Guillermo Barros Schelotto in its 2-1 win over Chicago in last year's conference championship match. The Crew then defeated New York in the MLS Cup for their first title.

However, the Crew (0-2-3) have followed their strong finish with the worst start to a season by a defending MLS Cup champion in league history.

Meanwhile, the Fire (2-0-3) are the only undefeated team in MLS other than New England, which is 2-0-2.

Chicago got two first-half goals from Brian McBride last Saturday night, but it was forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after giving up two late goals to former Fire player Josh Wolff.

"We needed to be better closing out the game," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "For 75 minutes, we had control of the game. We then got caught up in the last 15 minutes in an open game, trying to get that third goal."

That's a familiar scenario for the Crew, who gave up a game-tying goal in the 82nd minute of a 1-1 draw with Colorado in their last game April 11. Columbus also blew a late lead in its only other game at Crew Stadium, a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on March 28.

"We need some luck, to be honest with you," first-year Crew coach Robert Warzycha said after his club's latest disappointment. "We have to be sharper in front of the box."

Though the Crew remained winless, Warzycha was encouraged by their progress.

"I am proud of the team because they had a very good performance today. We were better in every aspect of the game," Warzycha said. "We were just unlucky not to score some goals. We give up a goal at the end and we give up two points."

The Crew will likely need a stronger finish to avoid more struggles at home against the Fire. Before the postseason defeat, Chicago was 4-0-2 in six trips to Crew Stadium since its last loss there July 3, 2004.

The Fire will have a better shot of continuing their success in Columbus with Cuauhtemoc Blanco finally healthy. Blanco had an assist in his first start of the season last week and played 83 minutes after being limited to 76 off the bench in three games while recovering from a knee injury.

"He's getting his form back," Hamlett said of the Mexican midfielder, who was second on the team with seven goals and first with 11 assists in 2008. "It was good for him to get out there and play in a competitive game from the get go."

Blanco has a goal and two assists this season.

McBride, who spent eight seasons with the Crew and scored Chicago's only goal against Columbus in the conference championship last year, is tied for the league lead with four goals.