Photo Credit: Don MacGregor
Chicago Fire 1- Houston Dynamo 0
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–Both the Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire might have seen this match as a tonic for their woes. The Fire had lost four straight and the Dynamo were 0-5-0 on the road. It turned out to be tonic for the former as the Fire made a third minute goal from Arturo Alvarez stand in a 1-0 win.
Fire head coach made five changes to the lineup from Wednesday, though it was the same 4-3-3 formation employed. Alvarez collected a cross from Gilberto that Dynamo defender and ex-Fire player DaMarcus Beasley misplayed and Alvarez slotted the ball past Tyler Deric.
After a dearth of shots on target in recent games, the Fire had seven on target to the Dynamo’s three. Shots in general were 20-10 in favor of the Fire. Gilberto had several chances to add to the lead, but was unable to hit the target and was twice denied by Deric.
Sean Johnson made three saves on the day, including a crucial one in the 86th minute against substitute Mauro Manotas in the 86th minute. Winning the match was huge according to Johnson as he played tribute to his defense.
“It’s good to be back on this pitch with the guys,” said Johnson. “I think this result tonight was massive. It comes in a tough time for us. We’ve been through a lot, and we’ve stuck together through the entire thing. So I’m happy for everybody that stepped on the field, and everybody on the team that gave their all to support everybody. It was a win for the organization today.
“The shape was excellent. You could see the eagerness from us, and the confidence, especially in the first half, to really take the game to them and take the pace of the game. I think everybody was committed to winning this game, it was evident the entire game. Like I said, I’m happy, the shape was great. The back four in front of me was brilliant tonight, limited chances, and going forward we were dangerous.
“We were able to work it out in training. I think the guys are really easy to get on. Johnny [Campbell] and Johan [Kappelhof], my center backs right in front of me, no problems at all; it was really easy to transition, they make it easy, they talk, they talk back and give me good feedback throughout the game. It’s great, we’re on the same page. After New York, we sat down with Rodrigo [Ramos] to come up with a translation so we’re on the same page, and it shows. Everybody is in the same page, we waste no time getting out to the pitch to work together.”
The Fire remain home next Saturday to take on defending champion Portland Timbers at 7:30pm on CSN Chicago.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Arturo Alvarez (Gilberto) 3
BOOKING SUMMARY:
HOU-David Horst (caution, reckless foul) 23
CHI-Kennedy Igboananike (caution, reckless foul) 56
CHI-Matt Polster (caution, delaying a restart) 76
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2): #25-Sean Johnson; #13-Rodrigo Ramos, #4-Johan Kappelhof, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #3-Brandon Vincent; #21-Nick LaBrocca, #2-Matt Polster (#30-Razvan Cocis 80), #26-Michael Stephens (#66-Joao Meira 70); #12-Arturo Alvarez, #9-Gilberto, #77-Kennedy Igboananike (#15-Joey Calistri 62)
Subs not used: #28-Matt Lampson, #6-Eric Gehrig, #19-Khaly Thiam, #29-Alex Morrell
HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-2-3-1): #1-Tyler Deric; #22-Sheanon Williams, #18-David Horst, #4-Agus, #7-DaMarcus Beasley (#2-Jalil Anibaba 13); #13-Ricardo Clark (C), #14-Alex; #11-Andrew Wenger, #8-Cristian Maidana (#19-Mauro Manotas 65), #10-Giles Barnes; #12-Will Bruin (#33-Leonel Miranda 55)
Subs not used: #31-Joe Willis, #5-Raul Rodriguez, #27-Boniek Garcia, #26-Collen Warner
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 20-10 HOU
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 7-3 HOU
FOULS: CHI 9-8 HOU
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-0 HOU
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-6 HOU
SAVES: CHI 3-6 HOU
Referee: Allen Chapman
Referee’s Assistants: Kermit Quisenberry, Cameron Blanchard
4th Official: Kevin Terry Jr.
Weather: Clear and 73º
Attendance: 15,363
Man of the Match: Arturo Alvarez (CHI)
Chicago Fire
