Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew edge thrilling 4-3 win
A seven-goal spectacle sees Columbus snatch victory in stoppage time.
Chicago Fire started strong with two early penalties from R. Lewandowski and a late first-half goal from M. Haile-Selassie, but Columbus Crew fought back with G. Tapia's brace, A. Zaroury’s strike, and a stoppage-time winner from Brais Méndez. The match was a rollercoaster of goals, with Columbus ultimately prevailing by a single goal in a high-scoring thriller. Fipster’s medium-confidence prediction of an away win was spot on, even if the exact scoreline was a bit off.
Outcome probability
Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew face off in what promises to be an entertaining MLS regular season encounter. Both teams have shown attacking intent this season, setting the stage for a high-scoring affair.
Match factors
Chicago Fire's attacking midfield strength
Chicago Fire's midfielders Haile-Selassie and Zinckernagel provide high goal and assist output, creating multiple scoring threats.
Hugo Cuypers' scoring dominance
Cuypers leads Chicago Fire with 13 goals, significantly above league average for attackers, making him a key scoring threat.
Columbus Crew's consistent scoring streak
Columbus Crew has scored in their last 5 matches, showing strong offensive form heading into this fixture.
Dylan Chambost's creative influence for Columbus
Chambost's 7 assists and recent 5 assists in last 5 games highlight his role as a key playmaker for Columbus Crew.
Robert Lewandowski's dual threat
Lewandowski contributes both goals (7) and assists (4), providing Columbus with a versatile attacking option.
The context
This match is part of the 34th round of the MLS regular season. Chicago Fire have struggled to convert recent chances despite strong individual performances, while Columbus Crew arrive on the back of a consistent scoring streak, having found the net in their last five matches.
Key insights
Hugo Cuypers
Chicago Fire
League-leading 13 goals this season make Cuypers a key scoring threat despite recent drought.
Major League Soccer 26/2713 goals in 11 appearances, 989 mins
Maren Haile-Selassie
Chicago Fire
Exceptional output with 12 goals and 6 assists, providing multiple scoring threats from midfield.
Major League Soccer 26/2712 goals and 6 assists in 33 appearances, 2432 mins
Dylan Chambost
Columbus Crew
Creative hub with 7 assists, including 5 in last 5 games, driving Columbus' attacking play.
Major League Soccer 26/277 assists in 29 appearances, 1676 mins
- R
Robert Lewandowski
Columbus Crew
Dual threat with 7 goals and 4 assists, offering versatility in attack.
Major League Soccer 26/277 goals and 4 assists this season
Analysis
Chicago Fire boast impressive attacking midfielders like Maren Haile-Selassie and Philip Frigast Zinckernagel, who have combined for a significant number of goals and assists this season. Hugo Cuypers leads their scoring charts with 13 goals, although he has been quiet in recent games. Columbus Crew counter with creative force Dylan Chambost, who has racked up 7 assists and is in excellent recent form. Robert Lewandowski adds a dual threat with 7 goals and 4 assists, making Columbus a formidable opponent. The prediction suggests a balanced first half ending 1-1, with Columbus pulling ahead in the second half to secure a 3-2 win.
Key facts
- 1.Chicago Fire's Hugo Cuypers leads with 13 goals this season but has not scored in the last 5 games.
- 2.Columbus Crew have scored in their last 5 matches, showing strong offensive form.
- 3.Philip Frigast Zinckernagel tops Chicago Fire's assists with 9 this season.
- 4.Dylan Chambost leads Columbus Crew with 7 assists, including 5 in the last 5 games.
- 5.Robert Lewandowski contributes 7 goals and 4 assists for Columbus Crew.
- 6.In 20 previous meetings, Columbus Crew have won 10 times compared to Chicago Fire's 3 wins, with 7 draws.
Prediction
Expect a closely contested first half with both sides finding the net once. However, Columbus Crew's consistent offensive momentum and key playmakers should see them edge out Chicago Fire by a single goal in the second half, finishing 3-2.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Chicago Fire
Away — Columbus Crew
The verdict
This fixture promises goals and excitement, with Columbus Crew's attacking prowess likely to prove decisive. Chicago Fire will need to rediscover their scoring touch to avoid a narrow defeat in this MLS showdown.
Prediction generated 2 Nov 2026, 06:14 UTC · Fipster Model v1.166
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Lewandowski
Penalty
Allen
Yellow Card
Tapia
Assist: Habroune
Lewandowski
Penalty
Zaroury
Mbokazi
Yellow Card
Haile-Selassie
Bangoura
Allen
D'Avilla
Bamba
Yellow Card
Tapia
Assist: Amundsen
Tapia
Yellow Card
Mbokazi
Bamba
Mekvabishvili
Yellow Card
Chambost
Rodríguez
Yellow Card
Zinckernagel
Farsi
Zaroury
Tapia
Méndez
Match Statistics
Chicago Fire
4-4-2Starting XI
- 1C. BradyG
- 4M. MbokaziD
- 6A. SalétrosM
- 7M. Haile-SelassieF
- 9R. LewandowskiF
- 11P. ZinckernagelM
- 19J. BambaM
- 21A. Hanche-OlsenD
- 24J. DeanD
- 32N. AllenD
- 42T. D'AvillaM
Substitutes
- 2Leonardo BarrosoD
- 3J. ElliottD
- 10André FrancoM
- 12P. DithejaneF
- 15A. GutmanD
- 18J. GómezF
- 23A. MekvabishviliM
- 35S. OregelM
- 44J. CohenG
Columbus Crew
3-4-3Starting XI
- 7D. ChambostM
- 8S. RodríguezF
- 16T. HabrouneF
- 17S. BangouraM
- 18M. AmundsenD
- 21A. ZarouryM
- 23M. FarsiM
- 25S. ZawadzkiD
- 28P. SchulteG
- 31S. MoreiraD
- 33G. TapiaF
Substitutes
- 1N. HagenG
- 2M. HerreraD
- 3E. BaillyD
- 10Brais MéndezM
- 11B. LennonD
- 19J. ThiaréF
- 20André GomesM
- 26L. GiacconeM
- 77Josef MartínezF
Chicago Fire
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Lewandowski | F | 90 | 7.4 | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | — |
| M. Haile-Selassie | F | 90 | 7.0 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| A. Salétros | M | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1/1 |
| P. Zinckernagel | M | 83 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1/4 |
| A. Hanche-Olsen | D | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| T. D'Avilla | M | 46 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| J. Dean | D | 90 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| P. Dithejane | F | 7 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| André Franco | M | 21 | 5.9 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 0/2 |
| C. Brady | G | 90 | 5.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Elliott | D | 22 | 5.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Mbokazi | D | 68 | 5.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Mekvabishvili | M | 44 | 5.6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| A. Gutman | D | 44 | 5.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| N. Allen | D | 46 | 5.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Bamba | M | 69 | 5.0 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 0/1 |
| S. Oregel | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Leonardo Barroso | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Gómez | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Cohen | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Columbus Crew
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Tapia | F | 91 | 8.9 | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| T. Habroune | F | 90 | 7.3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2/5 |
| A. Zaroury | M | 83 | 7.0 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0/1 |
| Brais Méndez | M | 44 | 7.0 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| M. Amundsen | D | 90 | 6.6 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| S. Rodríguez | F | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1/4 |
| S. Zawadzki | D | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| S. Bangoura | M | 46 | 6.4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| M. Farsi | M | 83 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Chambost | M | 78 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. Moreira | D | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| P. Schulte | G | 90 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| M. Herrera | D | 7 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| André Gomes | M | 12 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B. Lennon | D | 7 | 5.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Hagen | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Thiaré | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Josef Martínez | F | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| E. Bailly | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| L. Giaccone | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Prediction Q&A
- Who did Fipster predict to win Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew?
- Fipster's AI model predicted Columbus Crew to win against Chicago Fire.
- What score did Fipster predict for Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew?
- Fipster predicted a final score of Chicago Fire 2–3 Columbus Crew.
- What were the win probabilities for Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew?
- Fipster's model gave Chicago Fire a 23% chance of winning, Columbus Crew a 54% chance, and a 23% chance of a draw.
- How confident was Fipster in this prediction?
- Fipster's model assigned this prediction 54% confidence — a medium-confidence call.