Fire, Crew SC play to 0-0 draw

Article and photographs courtesy of our friends at Windy City Soccer

It was a match with a lot of defense—especially from the hosts—and very few quality chances—especially from the hosts. Such was the case in a 0-0 draw between the Fire and Columbus Crew SC.

The Fire had just four shots in total and just one on target courtesy of Gilberto. Columbus had four on target out of 12 total. Ethan Finlay came close with a shot from distance that was saved by Matt Lampson in the 69th minute, though the Crew came arguably closer to scoring 11 minutes prior when Joao Meira nearly headed the ball into his own goal in a clearance attempt.

David Accam did not play for the Fire as he was nursing a knee sprain and thus, will not be joining the Ghanaian National Team for Africa Cup of Nation Qualifiers. Instead, Accam will focus on rehabbing in time for the Fire’s next match in two weeks against Philadelphia. However, Accam’s absence did not affect the game plan according to Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic.

“David is very important for us” said Paunovic. “Obviously, he is quality in the counterattack with his speed and talent is very important for us. Without him, we didn’t change, we practically played the same system, the only thing is we played against a very, very good team and this is what you have to understand.

“I believe we were very focused on our defensive plan, our game plan, which I think we did very well and this is it. I would say for the next games we have to improve now to score goals, to create more opportunities but defensively we have it. This is the performance defensively that we need. The season is long so we’re building and improving and for me it was a good defensive setup.

“We believe that [David] will be ready for the next game. He is healing and will miss his international call with Ghana which is, for everyone, something very important, but I think the most important thing is his health and we believe that now he has to stay and the medical staff will work on him and recover for the next game.”

The Fire played with five in the back, though could be adjusted so Rodrigo Ramos and Brandon Vincent could join the attack on the wings.

“We played this formation in the last game too until Michael Harrington was sent off. We played against [NYCFC] in this formation. We played against Portland in the tournament in the preseason the same formation, so this is what we believe fits better in order to perform well so we’re improving from that point.

“I think we only conceded two goals since we played in this formation but it’s not that, it’s what we have. This is our team. We play the formation we believe is the best to get points, to win points, to win games, and our setup is always to win. Today, I think that we needed more clarity, more possession and that’s what we missed. In order to get some of the opportunities, sometimes you need to counter attack and you also have to have a good possession of the ball and that’s what we lacked of today.”

Matt Lampson made four saves on that and said that he is growing confident with each start.

“With each start, particularly in goalkeeping, confidence comes from playing games,” said Lampson. “Not only have I grown in confidence in myself, but I think the team really has started to gain confidence in me. Just like with confidence, with each game, it’s getting better and better at gelling, and I think our defensive performances have been a testament to that. Defensively, today was fantastic, a team effort, and every single guy in front of me was playing their heart out. I think it’s now time to focus in on the possession, I think that’s what we lacked today.

“One of the first questions today was, ‘Why were you so defensive?’ I don’t think it was on purpose; I think it was because we lacked possession, we had to defend. With a growing team, which is what we are, just as confidence, it’s going to improve with every game, and that’s exactly what we plan on doing. With each game, it’s gotten better and better, our performance as a team. It’s exciting to be a part of it, and it’s exciting to see.”

Possession was 58-42 in favor of the Crew on the day. Despite not having a victory in three matches (though two points more than this time last season), Paunovic defended how his team are preparing for matches.

“We have to prepare well for the game and that means conditions, weather,” said Paunovic. “In the first game we played against the wind in the first half, this time we won the draw so we wanted to play with the wind in favor so all these kinds of thing for us in order to start well for us.

“It’s very important, it’s very serious. You have to build the team with a good defense first and then move from that point. We started, maybe otherwise, but our team the last two games improved defensively where if you remember the questions and the answers were the first game we have to improve defensively, we improved defensively. Now the next step is possession and realization, the scoring.”

In other news, Matt Polster and Brandon Vincent were named to Andy Herzog’s Training Camp for the USA Under-23s in preparation for the Olympic Qualifying playoffs against Colombia next week. The USA will go to Barranqilla on Friday (4pm, FS1) and then back home to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX, on Tuesday after the senior squad’s World Cup Qualifying against Guatemala (8:30pm, ESPN2) on Tuesday, March 29th.

“I’m really excited, it’s a huge honor and I’m really thankful for the opportunity,” said Vincent. “I had to focus on the game today first, and now I’m looking forward to representing our country and representing Chicago. We head out tomorrow, so quick turnaround. I’m just trying to keep my head down and work hard my whole career. I get the opportunity now, so I’ll take it and will go forward with it.”

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CLB-Justin Meram (caution, reckless foul) 38

CHICAGO FIRE (5-3-2):  #28-Matt Lampson; #13-Rodrigo Ramos, #66-Joao Meira, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #4-Johan Kappelhof, #3-Brandon Vincent; #12-Arturo Alvarez (#15-Joey Calistri 90), #2-Matt Polster (C), #7-John Goossens (#26-Michael Stephens 46); #77-Kennedy Igboananike (#21-Nick LaBrocca 60), #9-Gilberto

Subs not used:  #25-Sean Johnson, #30-Razvan Cocis, #22-Patrick Doody, #17-Collin Fernandez

COLUMBUS CREW (4-2-3-1):  #1-Steve Clark; #25-Harrison Afful, #4-Michael Parkhurst (C), #22-Gaston Sauro, #14-Waylon Francis; #20-Wil Trapp, #6-Tony Tchani; #13-Ethan Finlay (#7-Emil Larsen 87), #10-Federico Higuain, #9-Justin Meram (#11-Cedrick 73); #23-Kei Kamara

Subs not used:  #41-Brad Stuver, #3-Corey Ashe, #33-Amro Tarek, #8-Mohammed Saeid, #16-Hector Jimenez

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 4-12 CLB

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 1-4 CLB

FOULS:  CHI 12-11 CLB

OFFSIDES:  CHI 2-3 CLB

CORNER KICKS:  CHI 9-6 CLB

SAVES:  CHI 4-1 CLB

Referee:  Robert Sibiga

Referee’s Assistants:  Craig Lowry, Anthony Vasoli

4th Official:  Jorge Gonzales

Weather:  Partly Cloudy and 45º

Attendance:  12,605

Man of the Match:  Jonathan Campbell (CHI)D