Photo: Leslie Smith
CHICAGO, IL—The Fire finally provided some fireworks as they put in their most comprehensive performance of the season with a 3-0 win over a depleted Atlanta United before the largest crowd at Soldier Field (14,898) so far this season. The Fire get their second win of the season and move off the bottom of the Eastern Conference table while the Five Stripes see their winless streak extend to six.
It was Ignacio Aliseda, who had been struggling since joining the Fire last season, who provided the spark in this one. His first goal for the Fire came in the 34th minute after picking up a pass from Alvaro Medran. Aliseda’s shot deflected off Atlanta’s Mo Adams and into the net for the opening score.
Six minutes into first half stoppage time, Aliseda struck again. This time, Miguel Navarro intercepted a pass from Anton Walkes that went to Aliseda who beat Brad Guzan far post to make it 2-0.
Aliseda turned provided in the 58th minute to Przemyslaw Frankowski who scored his first goal of the season to make it 3-0. It was the Fire’s first win by at least three goals since a 4-0 decision over Houston Dynamo back on September 23rd of last season.
It’s been a difficult year plus for Aliseda as he has been here in Chicago while his family is still in Argentina, but nights like this one could lead to being a breakout match for him.
“I hope that it’s a great start for me,” said Aliseda. “I think a game like tonight gives you the confidence for what’s coming ahead, which in this case is Wednesday’s game. I think you always have to keep working hard and working the same way that I’ve been working before. I think last year wasn’t my best year necessarily but coming in this year and having the injuries and overcoming that and seeing the confidence and feeling the confidence from the other players and from my coach makes me want to look forward and gives me the confidence to look ahead and keep working hard to work better for the team.”
The Fire conclude their homestand with a Wednesday night match against Orlando City SC. Kickoff is at 7pm on WGN-TV.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Ignacio Aliseda (Medran) 34
CHI-Ignacio Aliseda (Navarro) 45+6
CHI-Przemyslaw Frankowski (Aliseda) 58
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Jonathan Bornstein (caution, reckless foul) 26
ATL-George Bello (caution, tactical foul) 27
CHI-Przemyslaw Frankowski (caution, persistent infringement) 31
ATL-Tyler Wolff (caution, reckless tackle) 52
ATL-Anton Walkes (caution, tactical foul) 69
CHICAGO FIRE (3-5-2): #1-Bobby Shuttleworth; #4-Johan Kappelhof, #22-Mauricio Pineda, #3-Jonathan Bornstein (#20-Wyatt Omsberg 82); #2-Boris Sekulic, #11-Przemyslaw Frankowski (#40-Brian Gutierrez 82), #10-Alvaro Medran (#8-Luka Stojanovic 90), #21-Fabian Herbers, #6-Miguel Navarro; #7-Ignacio Aliseda (#27-Elliot Collier 90), #27-Robert Beric (#9-Chinoso Offor 72)
Subs not used: #32-Gabriel Slonina, #37-Javier Casas, #38-Alex Monis, #14-Jhon Espinoza
ATLANTA UNITED FC (4-3-3): #1-Brad Guzan; #4-Anton Walkes, #21-Geroge Bello (#2-Ronald Hernandez 85), #8-Ezquiel Barco, #11-Brooks Lennon; #23-Jake Mulraney (#10-Marcelino Moreno 53), #12-Miles Robinson, #29-Mo Adams (#33-Mikey Ambrose 75); #28-Tyler Wolff (#36-Jackson Conway 75), #16-Erik Lopez (#30-Machop Choi 56), #31-Erick Torres
Subs not used: #18-Ben Lundgaard, #32-George Campbell, #3-Alex De John
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 14-11 ATL
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-2 ATL
FOULS: CHI 16-10 ATL
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-5 ATL
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-4 ATL
SAVES: CHI 2-1 ATL
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Eric Boria, Brian Dunn
Fourth Official: Luis Arroyo
VAR: Daniel Radford
Weather: Sunny and 86º
Attendance: 14,898
Man of the Match: Ignacio Aliseda (CHI)
