Wisconsin Soccer Central

Ethan Finlay (Marshfield) continues to contribute to the Columbus Crew's attack. But last year's Major League Soccer Cup finalists continue to struggle this season.

Finlay drew and converted a penalty kick as the Crew dropped a 2-1 decision to the Chicago Fire in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fifth-round match Tuesday night in Bridgeview, Ill. Then on Sunday night, he recorded his sixth assist in league play, but host Sporting Kansas City scored a stoppage-time winner to prevail 3-2.

Only one of the 20 MLS teams have fewer points than Columbus (3-6-7) – and that is the Fire, who are in last place in the Eastern Conference. On the plus side, the Crew are only four points behind the sixth and final playoff spot.

With Chicago leading 2-0 on Tuesday, Finlay shot from the top of the box in the 79th minute and Fire defender Johan Kappelhof was whistled for a handball. Finlay stepped to the spot and sent goalkeeper Matt Lampson the wrong way, halving the Crew's deficit with his third goal of the season in all competitions – and second in as many U.S. Open Cup matches. (Watch below)

Against Sporting Kansas City, Finlay was credited with the second assist on Ola Kamara's opener for Columbus, after he played in Harrison Afful on the right side, who in turn set up the 22nd-minute goal. Finlay has four assists in his past four MLS matches and is tied for fourth in the league with six on the season.

• Calum Mallace (Marquette) returned to action after nearly three months out because of a foot injury, playing the final 29 minutes of the host Montreal Impact's 3-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday. It was Mallace's first appearance in an MLS match since April 9. On Twitter: @CMallace10
• Carlos McCrary, who played three seasons with the Madison 56ers in the National Premier Soccer League, is in preseason training after re-signing with German fifth-division club Sportfreunde Seligenstadt. McCrary, 24, tied for 15th in the Hessenliga with 11 goals in 30 appearances (17 starts) in his first season with Seligenstadt (12-14-6) finished ninth in the 17-team league. On Twitter: @CarlosMcCrary