Soaking Damage: Chicago Fire 1, Columbus Crew 0, MLS game recap

There were times it was hard to watch, but say this: The Fire never quit tonight.

There were times this evening that the Chicago Fire - the no-longer-winless Chicago Fire, the no-longer-pitiable Chicago Fire - were absorbing punishment like the hero of a hackneyed action movie, taking punches that sounded like small explosions, blood, sweat, and gore streaking down their lumpen, stubborn faces. The Columbus Crew played better football tonight, sometimes overwhelmingly so, but winning football matches is only ever mostly about playing the better football. In the end, the Men in Red were opportunistic, bullheaded, and hardworking enough to make a Nemanja Nikolic goal stand up for their first…