Gonzalo Tapia, Brais Méndez help Crew avoid MLS Cup wild-card match with 4-3 victory over Fire

Gonzalo Tapia's two goals and Brais Méndez's late winner in stoppage time secured the Columbus Crew a narrow 4-3 victory over the Chicago Fire in the MLS Cup. Despite trailing three times, the Crew bounced back from a ninth-place starting position to claim the spot, thanks to FC Cincinnati's recent loss to Nashville SC. Columbus will now face Inter Miami in the first round of the playoffs, while Chicago will host No. 2 seed Charlotte FC in the first round.

Robert Lewandowski put Chicago ahead in the eighth minute through a penalty, but Tapia equalized for Columbus in the 16th minute with the help of Taha Habroune and Santiago Rodríguez. Lewandowski then scored again in the 22nd minute to give the Fire the lead. Anass Zaroury tied the game at 2-2 shortly after, and Chicago extended their lead to 3-2 at halftime when Maren Haile-Selassie scored unassisted.

Tapia scored his second goal of the match in the 62nd minute, tying the game once more. Habroune added another assist, bringing his total to three in four consecutive seasons, while Méndez completed his first regular season with six goals and four assists in 14 appearances, including 10 starts. Patrick Schulte made three saves for the Crew, who ended the regular season with an unbeaten 6-0-1 streak.

Chris Brady managed two saves for the Fire, who had two wins in their last three matches. The two teams previously drew in Ohio at the start of March. Columbus will travel to begin their series against Inter Miami, while Chicago will host Charlotte FC in the first-round opener.