The message from The Nordecke was clear: “Let’s get to work.”
So, that’s what the Columbus Crew did. And in many ways, Saturday night’s match was a return to business as usual for the Black & Gold, as they beat rivals Chicago Fire FC, 4-2, in the 2025 season opener at Lower.com Field.
First games offer first impressions, obviously, but they also can produce statements. And on this occasion, Crewsmas was a statement of the Crew playing with slightly adjusted tactics and personnel but the same strong, aggressive style and relentless mentality that’s led to trophies in each of the two previous seasons.
Within 13 minutes, the home side trailed. But heads didn’t drop, and neither did confidence.
Instead, Columbus continued deploying a high press, which it started the match with, and the Crew were rewarded with a Jacen Russell-Rowe equalizer in the 20th minute.
Two minutes later, Columbus trailed once more. But again, the side pushed through, produced another equalizer via an own goal in the 38th minute, then took the lead via a Diego Rossi header – yes, header – a minute into first-half stoppage time.
“This is not only tonight; this is something that this is who we are,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said about playing through adversity. “This is something that we want to stick with. I told them, yes, we could have scored more goals or played in a better way at certain moments, but for me, the takeaways are the competitive mindset and spirit – amazing, amazing."
“I don't remember exactly the time, but for 45 seconds or one minute, defensive transition after defensive transition, we were hunting. For me, this is our team. This is the way we are. The consequences after that is we can play, score goals and so on. The fact that we came back from behind again, I'm not surprised. You know me, I don't believe in luck – we provoke luck.”
If at times last season it felt like Columbus would dominate teams simply because opponents couldn’t outplay the Crew, Saturday was different. Perhaps that’ll continue in 2025, but the prevailing takeaway from the win was that the Black & Gold aren’t just better, but they outwork their opponents, too.
Throughout the match, Nancy ran along the sideline, urging player to press, then press even more. When that press led an opponent into a poor touch or blocked pass, Nancy would shake his arms in delight and clap. He said his players were “like animals on the pitch.”
This intensity lasted all game. Rossi might be deep lying to receive the ball, but then he’d sprint 60 yards away to press a Chicago center back. Steven Moreira, Yevhen Cheberko and Malte Amundsen all made consequential plays in the final third by getting forward and provoking the visitors.
“The first attacker is the first defender, and the first attacker is the goalkeeper. I like this mindset,” Nancy said. “This is something that Diego ran like crazy like he used to do. He was efficient today. He was really, really good, also. He stepped up at the good moments. He did also a really good season. The other guys also ran.
“Sean (Zawadzki) was amazing. I've named this guy because this is not only about tactic or technique; this is about also the impact that they can give to the team to follow the rhythm… I think that they did well, my players, to recognize the moment to press or to recognize the moment to stay together and to step also when this is the good moment.”
Rossi scored his second in the 50th minute directly from the press that persisted throughout the first half.
Crewsmas was just one match, but it set a tone that Black & Gold supporters should expect moving forward. The season opener was about the players here in the present and what they can create in the future.
The Crew got to work, and it was a stirring shift to start 2025. It certainly feels like it’ll only get better.
