Gyasi Zardes scored two goals and the Columbus Crew beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 on Saturday night in the final game at Crew Stadium.
Zardes opened the scoring when he put away a failed clearance of a cross from Lucas Zelarayán in the 17th minute. Derrick Etienne ran onto a long, arcing ball by Jonathan Mensah and, Fire goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth came off his line, tapped a pass to Zardes for an empty-net finish to make it 2-0 in the 34th.
Columbus closed out Crew Stadium — the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer and the club's first home — before moving downtown to Lower.com Field next month.
Columbus Crew's Derrick Etienne left, and Chicago Fire's Miguel Angel Navarro chase the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
Kevin Molino made his debut with Columbus when he came on in the 70th minute. The Crew’s main offseason signing to be an immediate starter missed the first two months of the season with a hamstring injury.
Chicago (1-6-1) has lost back-to-back games.
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Chicago Fire's Fabian Herbers, bottom, slides under Columbus Crew's Lucas Zelarayan during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
Chicago Fire's Jhon Espinoza, left, clears the ball past Columbus Crew's Kevin Molino during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)
Chicago Fire's Ignacio Aliseda, right, and Columbus Crew's Kevin Molino fight for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP PhotoJay LaPrete)