By Mariana Smithfield

74,324 Jacen Russell-Rowe Crew Forward On how his confidence is high now after scoring a goal Crew 4 Fire FC 2 2 22 2025

74,325 Jacen Russell-Rowe Crew Forward Was the game a preview for fans seeing new goal scorers since Cucho & Ramirez being gone Crew 4 Fire FC 2 2 22 2025

74,327 Jacen Russell-Rowe Crew Forward A win in the first game goes a long way since critics said team would struggle without Cucho and Ramirez Crew 4 Fire FC 2 2 22 2025

Match Notes:

• The Crew earned a 4-2 win against Chicago Fire FC in tonight’s 2025 season opener at Lower.com Field on Saturday, Feb. 22.
  • The Black & Gold own a perfect 4-0 record in home openers since Lower.com Field’s first full season (4-0 vs. Vancouver, Feb. 26, 2022; 2-0 vs. D.C. United, March 4, 2023; 1-0 vs. Atlanta United FC, Feb. 24, 2024; 4-2 vs. Chicago Fire FC, Feb. 22, 2025).
  • Columbus is 17-3-10 all-time in MLS home openers.
  • The Crew tied a Club record for most goals in a season opener and home opener with four (April 13, 1996 vs. D.C. United; Feb. 26, 2022 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC).
  • With three goals in the first half, it marked the first time the Black & Gold scored three goals in any half of a home opener and second time in a season opener (2013 at Chivas USA, 2^nd half).
  • The Crew have scored multiple goals in MLS play 43 times (21 in 2023; 21 in 2024; one in 2025) since Wilfried Nancy took the helm in 2023, the most in the league over that span.
• Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe notched the opening goal for the Black & Gold in the 20^th minute of the match.
  • It is Russell-Rowe’s 10^th career goal in 50 MLS regular season matches.

• Tonight’s attendance was a sell-out of 20,210.
• The Black & Gold face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, March 1 [7:30 p.m. ET / MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / Alt 105.7 FM / iHeartRadio app (English); La Mega 103.1 FM, 107.1 FM / La Mega app (Spanish)].

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