Chicago Fire- New England Revolution recap

By Rusty Silber of Windy City Soccer

Bridgeview, IL-On a night to honor former Chicago Fire player Ante Razov, it was one to remember for a team that has struggled throughout its 2015 season.

Chicago got fired up with a three-goal outburst in the second half that led to a 3-1 victory over visiting New England at Toyota Park on Saturday night. It also broke a five game losing streak.

First, Razov was honored and placed into the “Ring of Fire,” which he had his number placed on the East wall being the eighth member to join the elusive club at halftime. Razov was well-deserved of the honor with 76 goals in 125 matches with the club.

“I’m glad to be back,” Razov said. “I’d like to thank all the support. This is a great honor for my career.”

While in the second half Saturday night, Harry Shipp scored the game-winning goal and added an assist, while David Accam and Gilberto scored the others for the Fire (8-18-6, 30 pts).

“Harry (Shipp) has those tools and he can make plays,” Chicago Fire Interim coach Brian Bliss said. “We prodded him on at halftime to get more involved and take care of the ball. I think he did that and connected some passes for us. As Harry can, he’s calm and cool and put it away.

Photo Credit: Don MacGregor

Before Shipp’s game-winner, David Accam got the ball rolling in the early part of the second half. He took the ball off a pass from Shipp, he made his way through four would be Revolution defenders and slotted a shot that found its way inside the near post. It had tied the game 1-1 in the 51st minute.

Shipp put the home-side up for good in the 60th minute with the help from Lovel Palmer with a shot form up top for a 2-1 lead.

“It’s good to be playing again,” Shipp said. “For us, I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been playing in practice. I think there’s a new found focus and it’s something to focus on for next year and I found that here in this one. I feel comfortable in the center and with Gilberto up top, he’s a smart player and makes some good runs. All-in-all, it was pretty good for me.”

Gilberto added some insurance in the 86th minute by taking a pass from Matt Watson. He was able to get a goal with a rollover volleykick into the side netting which gave the Fire a comfortable 3-1 lead.

However, the Fire had some moments to worry about with New England (13-11-8, 47 pts) with a couple of outstanding shots from Juan Agudelo in less than a minute just of the hour mark. But, Chicago keeper Jon Busch was on the spot to stop each one of them of his four saves.

Photo Credit: Don MacGregor

“He made two fantastic saves,” said Bliss of the efforts of Busch in goal, “That would’ve kicked the game for us if one of those would’ve gone in.The mentality of winning your duals, giving nothing away, making up for a mistake for someone else makes. The guys were there to bale each other out. We would’ve caved in the past, but this one we didn’t. All the games have some meaning, for me it’s a tip to the guys. It’s not helping us in the standings. But the amount of goodwill you put in your tank and the amount of goodwill you put in your mentality is what is important. Yes, we would like to jump up in the standings for psychological, it’s one for the guys and I appreciate it.”

New England’s Agudelo opened the scoring in the 31st minute of play by scoring off an assist from Chris Tierney.

The Fire just a couple of minutes earlier had their chances of getting on the board first. But Daniel Cyrus had a shot go off the post and Gilberto fired a shot that was pushed away by Revolution keeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

Still, the Fire had something to cheer about after this one because it has halted one of its longest losing streaks in their history.

“It’s all that’s mattered to me, it’s been a tough few months,” Shipp said. “This club and this team with the change a couple of weeks ago. It brought us some life with some energy in practice. We have a different focus. You saw a different performance against a really good team. It’s not going to change about our season altogether, because it hasn’t been a good year. We wanted to come, give something to the fans, so they can have something to be proud of for one night.”

SCORING SUMMARY

NE-Juan Agudelo (Chris Tierney) 31′

CHI-Accam (Harry Shipp) 51′

CHI-Harry Shipp (Lovel Palmer) 60′

CHI-Gilberto (Matt Watson) 86′

BOOKING SUMMARY:

CHI-David Accam (Tactical foul) 43′

CHI-Jeff Larentowicz (Foul) 62′

CHI-Harry Shipp (Handling the ball) 65′

CHI-Michael Stephens (Foul) 89′

NE-Teal Bunbury (Tactical foul) 89′

NE-Jermaine Jones (Tactical foul) 95′

CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2):  #18-Jon Busch; #5-Lovel Palmer, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #55-Daneil Cyrus, #3-Joevin Jones; #14-Patrick Nyarko, #30-Razvan Cocis (#8-Matt Watson 80′), #26-Michael Stephens, #11-David Accam, #19-Harry Shipp (#22-Patrick Doody 72′), #29-Gilberto.

Subs not used: #1-Alec Kahn, #27-Kingsley Brice, #21-Chris Ritter, #77-Kenedy Igboananike, #9-Mike Magee.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (3-5-2):  #22-Bobby Shuttleworth, #23-Jose Goncalves, #30-Kevin Alston, #2-Andrew Farrell, #13-Jermaine Jones, #6-Scott Caldwell (#16-Daigo Kobayashi 74′), #24-Lee Nguyen, #11-Kelyn Rowe, #8-Chris Tierney (#9-Charlie Davies 84′), #17-Juan Agudelo, #14-Diego Fagundez (#10-Teal Bunbury 62′).

Subs not used: #18 Brad Knighton, #28-London Woodberry, #5-Jeremy Hall, #4 Steve Neumann.