Fire and Crew play to scoreless draw in home opener

Longtime MLS rivals Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew end match without goals

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew played to a scoreless draw in the Crew's home opener on Saturday night. Both teams had limited scoring chances, with Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady making three saves and Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte stopping two shots. The match featured five yellow cards handed out in the final 13 minutes of regulation, three of them to the Fire. This was the 80th meeting between the longtime MLS rivals, with the series now knotted at 28 wins apiece and 24 draws.

Why it matters

The draw leaves both teams still searching for their first wins of the 2026 MLS season. The Fire and Crew have a long-standing rivalry, so this result will be seen as a missed opportunity for both sides to gain an early advantage over their opponent.

The details

Despite the lack of goals, the match was a physical affair, with the referee issuing five yellow cards in the final 13 minutes. The Fire's Chris Brady made three saves to preserve the clean sheet, while Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was only called upon twice. The two clubs split their season series in 2025, with each team winning at home.

  • The match was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • The Fire and Crew last met in the 2025 MLS season.

The players

Chris Brady

Goalkeeper for the Chicago Fire who made three saves to earn the clean sheet.

Patrick Schulte

Goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew who made two saves in the match.

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The takeaway

This scoreless draw leaves both the Fire and Crew still searching for their first wins of the 2026 MLS season. The longtime rivals were unable to break the deadlock, highlighting the competitive nature of their matchup and the importance of each point in the early stages of the campaign.