Fire II Torch Columbus in Six-Goal Showcase

The goals came fast, the confidence flowed even faster. Chicago Fire FC II put on one of their most dominant displays of the season Sunday, overwhelming Columbus Crew 2 in a 6–1 rout at SeatGeek Stadium.

Trip Fleming and Harold Osorio each delivered a pair of goals, Claudio Cassano dazzled with both a strike and two assists, and Dean Boltz joined the party as the Fire racked up their third consecutive victory. The result keeps Chicago’s push for the top of the Eastern Conference alive, narrowing the gap to just three points behind Philadelphia Union II.

Fleming wasted no time, rising to meet a Cassano cross in only the second minute to give the Fire the dream start. Columbus managed to equalize midway through the first half, but Cassano answered emphatically before the break,chesting down a loose ball, spinning past his defender, and smashing home a rocket into the upper corner.

From there, it was all Chicago. Fleming bagged his brace minutes after halftime, Boltz followed with a well-placed drive through traffic, and Osorio, fresh off the bench, added two of his own to put the game completely out of reach.

Cassano’s two-assist night pushed him to 10 on the season, the first Fire player to hit double digits and now the league leader in the category.

For Chicago, it wasn’t just the scoreline, it was the statement. With three straight wins and the attack firing on all cylinders, the Fire are quietly shaping into one of the conference’s most dangerous sides as the playoff race heats up.

Written by: Michael Sanders