Sturdy defense, Patrick Schulte save Crew home opener

Takeaways from the Columbus Crew's scoreless draw against the Chicago Fire

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Columbus Crew played to a scoreless draw against the Chicago Fire in their home opener, with goalkeeper Patrick Schulte making a key save late to preserve the point. The Crew's defense was the story of the match, as they tightened things up after giving up two counterattack goals the previous week.

Why it matters

The Crew's defensive effort and Schulte's heroics at the end showed the team's ability to bounce back from a tough loss and earn a result at home. While the offense struggled to find the net, the Crew proved they can grind out points through solid defending.

The details

The Crew opted for a 4-4-2 formation to shore up the defense, and it paid off as they limited the Fire's chances in the first half. Schulte made a diving save in the 71st minute to deny the Fire, and defender Steven Moreira made a crucial block moments earlier. Despite leading in expected goals, shots, and shots on target, the Crew couldn't find the breakthrough, and the Fire grew stronger in the final 20 minutes.

  • The key save by Schulte came in the 95th minute of stoppage time.
  • The Crew led in expected goals, shots, and shots on target by the end of the game.

The players

Patrick Schulte

The Columbus Crew goalkeeper who made a key save in stoppage time to preserve the draw.

Steven Moreira

The Crew defender who made a crucial block to prevent a Chicago Fire goal in the 71st minute.

Henrik Rydstrom

The Columbus Crew head coach who opted for a 4-4-2 formation to tighten up the defense.

Sean Zawadski

The Columbus Crew captain who said the team is poised for an offensive breakthrough despite the scoreless draw.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi

The Chicago Fire winger who had a low shot saved by Schulte in stoppage time.

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What they’re saying

“I was going to have to make a play to keep that point, which was the main focus, but [I was] not trying to let that get to my head and was just trying to be composed through that minute, 10 seconds, whatever it was.”

— Patrick Schulte, Goalkeeper

“We didn't stick to the plan enough in the second half or at least the last 20-25 minutes. We were defensively solid, hard to break down. Over time, we need to be better, to press higher up and win the ball higher up. We need to look at that.”

— Henrik Rydstrom, Head Coach

“The ability to put the ball in the net is there, but now it's putting together that full performance and having the confidence that it's going to happen. We did the defensive work [against the Fire] to keep them at zero, but now it's about getting forward and getting numbers around the ball, numbers in the box, and to score.”

— Sean Zawadski, Captain

What’s next

The Crew will look to build on their defensive effort and find more consistency in the attack as they continue their MLS season.

The takeaway

The Crew's home opener showcased their ability to grind out a result through sturdy defending, but also highlighted the need to find a better balance between defense and offense to unlock their full potential this season.