Report courtesy of Dan Gaichas of Windy City Soccer
Once again, the Chicago Fire managed to take any good feelings that have come their way and waste them like a drunken sailor wastes money. An appalling defensive effort against DC United led to a 4-0 defeat for the Fire.
The Fire clinch the #1-pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January, become the 7th team in MLS history to go an entire season without a road win (0-12-5), and extend their road winless streak in all competitions to 26 (0-20-6). They also go 0-9-4 in the secondary kits this season.
Errant touches by both Razvan Cocis and Joevin Jones allowed Chris Pontius to get in behind the defense for the opening score in the 39th minute.
An unmarked Bobby Boswell then headed in a corner from Fabian Espindola in the 67th minute. Four minutes later, Espindola scored off a deflection from Lovel Palmer to make it 3-0.
The humiliation was complete in the 80th minute when another errant deflection, this time from Daneil Cyrus, was pounced on by Alvaro Saborio to end the scoring.
The Fire will (thankfully) conclude their season next Sunday at 4pm against the New York Red Bulls at home on CSN Chicago.
Nelson Rodriguez officially becomes the Fire’s general manager on Monday. After today’s performance, it’s clear that he has an almighty task ahead of him to bring the club back to prominence.
SCORING SUMMARY:
DC-Chris Pontius (unassisted) 39’
DC-Bobby Boswell (Espindola) 67’
DC-Fabian Espindola (DeLeon) 71’
DC-Alvaro Saborio (unassisted) 80’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Gilberto (caution, reckless foul) 50’
CHI-David Accam (caution, tactical foul) 77’
DC UNITED (4-4-2): #28-Bill Hamid; #2-Taylor Kemp, #6-Kofi Opare, #32-Booby Boswell (C), #5-Sean Franklin; #13-Chris Pontius (#12-Jefferson Farfan 86’), #23-Perry Kitchen, #4-Markus Halsti, #14-Nick DeLeon (#30-Conor Doyle 82’); #18-Chris Rolfe (#9-Alvaro Saborio 76’), #10-Fabian Espindola
Subs not used: #50-Andrew Dykstra, #15-Steve Birnbaum, #19-Jairo Arrieta, #34-Luke Mishu
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-1-1): #18-Jon Busch; #5-Lovel Palmer, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #55-Daneil Cyrus, #3-Joevin Jones; #14-Patrick Nyarko, #30-Razvan Cocis (#2-Matt Polster 68’), #26-Michael Stephens, #11-David Accam (#77-Kennedy Igboananike 78’); #19-Harry Shipp; #29-Gilberto
Subs not used: #1-Alec Kann, #22-Patrick Doody, #21-Chris Ritter, #8-Matt Watson, #7-Jason Johnson
TOTAL SHOTS: DC 16-8 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: DC 8-4 CHI
FOULS: DC 14-12 CHI
OFFSIDES: DC 0-0 CHI
CORNER KICKS: DC 4-5 CHI
SAVES: DC 4-4 CHI
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Referee’s Assistants: Peter Manilkowski, Jason White
4th Official: Armando Villarreal
Attendance: 20,104
Man of the Match: Fabian Espindola (DC)