Bastian Schweinsteiger’s arrival has understandably received the majority of media and fan attention, but midfield partner Dax McCarty has quietly continued to show how vital he will be if the Chicago Fire are to return to the top of the MLS table.
The former New York Red Bulls man put in another man-of-the-match shift as the Fire beat Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew SC 1-0 to climb to second and pull within two points of Gregg Berhalter’s men.
McCarty covered every inch of grass as his fledgling partnership with Schweinsteiger helped establish the home side’s territorial advantage in the first half.