Columbus Crew Stun Chicago Fire 4-3 in Dramatic MLS Encounter as Brais Méndez Scores Late Winner

Columbus Crew produced a dramatic late turnaround to defeat Chicago Fire 4-3 in a seven-goal Major League Soccer contest at Soldier Field on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The visitors had to recover from falling behind twice in the first half before Gonzalo Tapia restored parity after the break and substitute Brais Méndez struck in stoppage time to complete the comeback.

Chicago looked set to take control after Robert Lewandowski converted two first-half penalties, but Columbus repeatedly found ways through the home defence. Anass Zaroury also scored before the interval, while Maren Haile-Selassie gave the Fire a 3-2 advantage with a goal in added time. The second half was more measured, yet the Crew stayed in the contest and were rewarded when Méndez delivered the decisive finish in the 90th-plus third minute.

The victory lifted the Crew into seventh place and secured a first-round playoff position, while Chicago remained fourth and retained home-field advantage for its opening playoff matchup against Charlotte FC.

A frantic opening half

Chicago made the brighter start and were in front after eight minutes. Columbus defender Sékou Bangoura was penalised for handball following a corner, giving the hosts an early opportunity from the spot. Lewandowski stepped forward, used a stutter-step approach to unsettle goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and placed his effort into the right corner.

The Crew responded instead of allowing the early setback to dictate the contest. In the 16th minute, Taha Habroune supplied a pass into the penalty area for Tapia, who moved into the space and calmly guided the ball beyond Chris Brady.

The home side regained the lead six minutes later, again through Lewandowski and again from the penalty spot. Bangoura was penalised for a challenge from behind on Philip Zinckernagel, and the Polish striker made no mistake with his second attempt. Schulte guessed correctly this time but could not keep the powerful effort out.

There was barely time for Chicago to settle before Columbus struck back. Tapia helped create the opening by sending the ball across the area, where Zaroury arrived to finish into the corner in the 23rd minute.

Chicago continued to threaten and Lewandowski came close to completing a first-half hat-trick when he met a well-weighted delivery from Anton Salétros. His attempt struck the woodwork, denying the hosts another goal. The rebound, however, fell kindly for Haile-Selassie, who reacted quickly and headed or turned the loose ball home in the 45th minute plus stoppage time to send Chicago into the break with a 3-2 lead.

Columbus find another route back

Columbus introduced Méndez at half-time, a substitution that would prove decisive later. The visitors needed to become more composed in possession while remaining direct enough to trouble Chicago’s back line.

Their equaliser arrived in the 62nd minute. Malte Amundsen launched a long through ball from deep, sending Tapia into a one-on-one situation at a tight angle. The forward took the opportunity with confidence, using his first touch to guide the ball past Brady and make it 3-3. It was a significant moment for the Chilean, who had now scored twice and given Columbus a genuine chance of taking all three points.

The match statistics showed the hosts with 53 per cent of the ball and 14 total shots, compared with Columbus’ 47 per cent possession and 11 attempts. Both teams registered six shots on target, underlining how evenly the contest was balanced despite Chicago’s slight advantage in possession.

The Fire also recorded four blocked shots against Columbus’ one and had two penalties awarded, both converted by Lewandowski. Columbus remained organised enough to survive the later stages and waited for an opportunity to punish a mistake.

Méndez delivers the decisive moment

With the match heading towards a draw, Columbus found the breakthrough in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Brooks Lennon sent a cross into the penalty area, and Chicago defender Jack Elliott failed to deal with the ball cleanly after attempting a headed clearance. Méndez was left unmarked and took full advantage, controlling the opportunity before driving his finish into the roof of the net.

Méndez had entered at the interval and made his contribution count at the most important moment. His finish was the difference between Columbus leaving Chicago with a point and returning home with a victory that strengthened their playoff position.

Chicago had scored three goals, led at half-time and produced more shots overall, yet they could not protect their advantage. Their defensive lapses, especially when dealing with crosses and balls into the area, proved costly. Columbus, by contrast, showed patience and resilience after repeatedly falling behind.

The closing stages demanded concentration from both sides, but Columbus looked increasingly willing to commit runners forward rather than settle for a share of the points. Chicago struggled to clear its lines when Lennon delivered from wide areas, and that pressure eventually produced the decisive opening. The Crew’s substitutes also gave the visitors fresh energy at a stage when the game could easily have slowed down.

Man of the Match: Gonzalo Tapia

Gonzalo Tapia is NewsVaultHQ’s Man of the Match for his two goals and his central role in keeping Columbus within reach of victory. The forward scored the Crew’s first equaliser in the 16th minute, then produced an excellent finish in the 62nd minute to bring the visitors level for a third time in the match. His movement gave Chicago’s defenders problems, and his willingness to attack the space helped Columbus turn transitions into clear opportunities.

Amundsen’s long pass required the striker to make a quick decision under pressure, and he showed composure to beat Brady from a difficult angle. He also contributed to the move that led to Zaroury’s equaliser, giving him an influence beyond the two goals recorded beside his name.

Méndez deserves significant credit for scoring the winner, while Lewandowski’s two penalties and Haile-Selassie’s finish made Chicago dangerous throughout. However, Tapia’s brace supplied the platform for Columbus’ comeback. Without his two goals, the late strike would not have been enough to secure the three points.

A result with playoff consequences

The 4-3 victory gave Columbus a valuable lift at the end of the regular season, moving the Crew into the seventh seed and into the first round of the playoffs. It was a result built on character: they conceded three times, twice from the penalty spot, but continued to attack and refused to let the deficit end their hopes.

Nevertheless, the Fire will need to review the defensive errors that allowed Columbus to score four times. In a playoff environment, failing to manage key moments could prove even more damaging.

Ultimately, the contest belonged to Columbus. Tapia’s two goals brought them back into the game, Zaroury kept the pressure on Chicago, and Méndez supplied the late finish that settled a breathless encounter. The Crew left Soldier Field with a 4-3 win, a playoff place and a reminder that persistence can turn a match around even when the odds appear to be against them.