Recap · Sat, Nov 7
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Recap: Final Score & Pick Result (MLS Decision Day)
By SportsHub Model · Edited by Kyle Parker
Final · · Recap updated
Final: November 7, 2026 | Recap updated: November 7, 2026, 7:50 PM ET
The Columbus Crew beat the Chicago Fire 4-3 at SeatGeek Stadium on MLS Decision Day. Brais Méndez, on at halftime, scored the winner in the third minute of stoppage time after Gonzalo Tapia's second goal had tied it 3-3. We had no edge; our model favored Chicago (61%), and they lost. Chicago kept fourth in the East, and Columbus climbed to seventh.
Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew Final Score
| Team | 1H | 2H | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Columbus Crew | 2 | 2 | 4 |
How It Happened
Seven goals went in, five of them before halftime. Chicago led twice from the penalty spot: Robert Lewandowski converted in the 8th and 22nd minutes, both into the bottom right corner. Columbus answered each one quickly. Gonzalo Tapia finished Taha Habroune's pass from the center of the box in the 16th, and Anass Zaroury leveled again in the 23rd, a minute after the second penalty.
Chicago went into the break ahead 3-2 when Maren Haile-Selassie scored from close range in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Both benches moved at halftime. Méndez, listed as questionable before the match with a thigh injury, replaced Sékou Bangoura for Columbus, and Chicago sent on Anzor Mekvabishvili and Andrew Gutman. In the 62nd minute Malte Amundsen's through ball sent Tapia in on the left side of the box, and his left-footed finish made it 3-3.
The winner came at 90+3: Méndez hit a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the top right corner. Each side put 6 shots on target. Chicago had 53% of the ball and 14 shots to Columbus's 11, and took four of the match's six yellow cards.
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Gonzalo Tapia | Columbus Crew | 2 goals (16', 62') |
| Brais Méndez | Columbus Crew | Winning goal (90+3') off the bench |
| Robert Lewandowski | Chicago Fire | 2 penalty goals (8', 22') |
| Maren Haile-Selassie | Chicago Fire | Goal (45+4') |
| Patrick Schulte | Columbus Crew | 3 saves, 3 goals allowed |
Model Check
There was no pick to grade: our preview called this no edge, so the return is $0. The model favored Chicago at 61% (medium confidence), with the draw at only 11%, and Chicago lost. With the margin removed, the market had the Fire near 47% and the draw near 24%, so passing avoided a losing side.
What held up and what didn't:
- Columbus's form. Held. The Crew came in on five straight MLS wins and made it six.
- Chicago's home record. Didn't hold. The Fire were 9-5-2 at home and finish 9-6-2.
- Méndez as the swing factor. Held. He played the second half and scored the winner.
- The model's thin draw number. The preview treated the 11% draw as the source of the gap, not a real read on Chicago. There was no draw, but the model's favorite still lost.
- The total. The preview saw no angle at 3.5. Seven goals went in.
Betting Results
- Moneyline (90 minutes): Columbus won, priced +210 to +230 before the match. Chicago (-105 to +105) and the draw (+280 to +300) lost.
- Total: seven goals, so over 3.5 won and the under (-128 to -154) lost.
SportsHub Soccer Handicappers: Oct 31–Nov 6
Here is the top of the all-soccer board for the seven days before this match:
| Handicapper | Record | Net ($) | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randall Dickelman | 14-3 | +$990 | 24.8% |
| Kyle Parker | 10-4 | +$316 | 10.1% |
See every record on the SportsHub handicappers leaderboard.
What's Next
Decision Day closed the regular season, and every Eastern Conference club has now played 34 matches.
- Chicago Fire: finish 16-11-7 with 55 points, fourth in the East, one point ahead of Charlotte, who drew 3-3 at Inter Miami.
- Columbus Crew: finish 14-15-5 with 47 points, seventh in the East, one point ahead of Orlando City and FC Cincinnati, which keeps the Crew out of the wild-card round.
Both clubs move on to the MLS Cup Playoffs. MLS sets the Round One schedule after Decision Day; dates and TV had not been announced when this recap was written.
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