Chicago Fire 1 : 0 Sounders FC
Chicago Fire recorded their most dramatic victory of 2015 on Saturday, and may have saved Frank Yallop’s job in the process. In one of the most surprisingly dull, low-intensity, reserve-filled MLS matches in recent memory, it took a late winner from Jason Johnson to separate the sides and give Fire their first ever league win over Seattle.
Sounders absentees are well heralded but the league’s bottom side lacked two DPs David Accam and Shaun Maloney; Jeff Larentowicz, Ty Harden and Joevin Jones.
The Fire looked determined to save their coach, playing a lively brand of soccer to start. Kennedy Igboananike and Patrick Nyarko were the danger men, Nyarko heading wide from very close range early on and Kennedy wasting a variety of looks throughout the opening half. Harry Shipp and co. controlled the midfield, and Sounders looked disinterested in testing a young Fire defense.
In reality it was a dream start for Chicago, and they could’ve led by multiple goals at half. All the possession only translated to 8 shots, though, and most weren’t threatening for backup ‘keeper Troy Perkins.
Seattle couldn’t capitalize on their momentum from beating DC last Friday any better though. In fact, the difference was night and day as a virtually identical starting eleven couldn’t seem to string any passes together. The visitors hardly touched the ball for the first fifteen minutes, and through half an hour the Fire dominated possession 60%-40%. One could hardly decide what the problem was, so lethargic were the Sounders.
Seattle decided to try their hand offensively after the hosts proved definitively that they weren’t goal-dangerous yet. Cristian Roldan and Lamar Neagle combined to curl over the bar from the top of the area for the Sounders’ first chance of the night. Remick then crossed for Barrett several minutes later. The former Fire forward reached back with his left foot to meet the ball, but the well-struck volley was right at Fire keeper Sean Johnson.
For all their disorganization, Seattle eventually fashioned the best chance of the half. Roldan was involved again, this time touching the ball to himself from nearly 30 yards out just right of center. He struck a pure, dipping half volley that caught the top of the bar as Johnson couldn’t get close.
Seattle, despite creating three really good chances, played by far their worst half of the year. Chicago looked excellent, but showed why they sit dead last in the league- in MLS, 45 minutes of dominance must be converted into goals. They couldn’t do so, and the game was level heading into the second half.
Sounders’ expansion of power continued after the break. Their interplay became sharper and, for ten minutes, they carried the game. Half chances for Seattle led to nothing, and then they slipped out of the game again. Andy Craven injected some pace when he joined the action, but was limited by a lack of service.
Harry Shipp took Seattle’s wastefulness as a sign that the match was still there for Chicago. He very nearly bent in low to the far right corner, 19 yards out and just left of center on the hour mark. A tense next 15 minutes seemed to have the match drawing towards a draw. Seattle subbed on a third holding midfielder in Andy Rose and most of the game was mired in the middle third. With the two sides already stretched thin in the roster department, the recipe didn’t look like one that would boil down to goals.
Chicago pressed down the flanks to create several looks in the last phase of the game. Substitute Guly do Prado forced Perkins to save a precise header towards the bottom left corner on 80 minutes. Michael Azira subbed on, and Seattle had officially shut up shop. Four holding midfielders stood in front of the Sounder defense and hoped for a point. It was a strange sight, with both clubs playing at a lower intensity than normal. The last five minutes brought the chances the rest of the game lacked, though.
Gonzalo Pineda found the ball at his feet in the center of the Chicago area, but he was slow to shoot and Gehrig recovered to block away. Jason Johnson had the hosts’ best look so far just after that, firing a low left-footed drive across Perkins’ body. Perkins saved there, but couldn’t two minutes into stoppage time.
Getting in on the right this time, Johnson cut in and fired into the far upper corner. The reward was no more than the Fire deserved, outplaying the Western Conference leaders for vast portions of the 90 minutes. It’s a win that may save the tenure of Frank Yallop.
For Seattle, the loss is inexplicable, other than to say that injuries eventually catch up with a team. The reserves looked tired, and it’s hard for reserves to look like starters for an extended period of time. That said, Chicago had five starters missing and two Designated Players, so that also falls flat as an excuse. Their reserves were just hungrier.
It wasn’t anywhere near good enough from the Sounders, who have lost four of five. It wasn’t much better from Chicago, but it was enough. Will the confidence gained from downing Seattle in stoppage time propel them up the table?
They get their next chance at home against Columbus, while Seattle host bottom-of-the-West Colorado.
