Chicago Fire 0-0 DC United
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—It turned out to be the result that neither team desired before the largest crowd of the season at SeatGeek Stadium (18,232). The Fire and DC United played to a 0-0 draw which extends the Fire’s winless streak to six in all competitions and down to 11th in the Eastern Conference table and nine points out of a playoff spot. DC has just one win in their last six and failed to take advantage of losses by Philadelphia and Atlanta this weekend.
The Fire were once again in double digits in shots (14), but only three were on target and all three stopped by Bill Hamid. Przemyslaw Frankowski had the best chance for the Fire in the 82nd minute, but was stopped by Hamid. Most of the time, the Fire’s final touch for goal was left sorely lacking as has been the case most of the season.
DC had ten shots, but just Wayne Rooney’s free kick in the 66th minute was on target and parried away by Kenneth Kronholm. Most of the night, DC was stymied by a vastly-improved Fire defense that featured Jonathan Bornstein’s first appearance in MLS in nine years at left back.
For the Fire, they have ten matches left to save their season and need to at least double their points-per-game (currently 1.00) to make the playoffs. That’s something that’s not possible without converting their plethora of chances.
“We thought we created a lot of good chances,” said Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic. “[Three to five] that we had are pretty much enough chances to score a goal. That’s the only thing that we missed today. When you are creating chances, it means that you have a chance to win, and that’s something the team never lacked of during the whole season. What we lacked of is scoring the goals.
“We have thirty points to fight for. Nobody is going to give up. The way we played today showed me. The guys told me on the field that we are not giving up and they are going to push and everyone here is going to push for every single point that is left and thirty points is plenty of points that we can aspire for our ultimate goal which get somehow in the playoffs.”
DC head coach Ben Olsen felt his team was not clicking as offensively as they were defensively, though the Fire’s lack of a finished product helped.
“Ultimately clicking, rhythm, tempo, and just overall quality was a little bit off,” said Olsen. “Hopefully, we that back and continue with our defensive effort.”
Fire captain Dax McCarty feels the team is too timid in front of goal, but is still confident they are capable of winning games, though the bar is high of what’s required to make the playoffs.
“I know that this team is capable of winning games. I’m convinced we are capable. We haven’t proven that so that’s fine if people are skeptical and I understand why they would be.
“It is possible to put together a run. We have to be honest with ourselves. We have to put together a run of not just drawing games, but winning games. I’d say we have to win 7-8 games coming up in our last ten if we want to give ourselves a realistic chance. People can doubt us and people can doubt me and the words that I’m saying, but I promise you that I believe that we are capable of doing it. We’re going to go for it and we’re going to try.”
The Fire travel to Houston next Saturday to try to end their their winless streak overall and on the road (8pm CT, ESPN+) while DC host Philadelphia on Sunday at the 7:30pm ET on FS1.
SCORING SUMMARY:
None
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-CJ Sapong (caution, reckless foul) 54
CHI-Johan Kappelhof (caution, tactical foul) 58
DC-Donovan Pines (caution, reckless foul) 69
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #27-Kenneth Kronholm; #4-Johan Kappelhof, #31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, #3-Jonathan Bornstein, #5-Francisco Calvo; #6-Dax McCarty, #13-Brandt Bronico; #23-Nemanja Nikolic (#12-Amando Moreno 69), #20-Nico Gaitan (#17-Diego Campos 75), #11-Przemyslaw Frankowski; #9-CJ Sapong
Subs not used: #45-Richard Sanchez, #2-Marcelo, #15-Grant Lillard, #36-Andre Reynolds, #33-Jeremiah Gutjahr
DC UNITED (4-2-3-1): #24-Bill Hamid; #29-Leonardo Jara, #13-Frederic Brillant, #15-Steve Birnbaum, #23-Donovan Pines; #4-Russell Canouse (#21-Chris Durkin 64), #5-Junior Moreno; #7-Paul Arriola (#28-Joseph Mora 87), #10-Luciano Acosta, #11-Lucas Rodriguez; #9-Wayne Rooney (#8-Ulises Segura 89)
Subs not used: #1-Chris Seitz, #20-Jalen Robinson, #3-Chris Odoi-Atsem, #25-Quincy Amarikwa
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 14-10 DC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-1 DC
FOULS: CHI 10-7 DC
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-0 DC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 8-4 DC
SAVES: CHI 1-3 DC
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Apolinar Mariscal
4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Alejandro Marsical
Weather: Sunny and 88º
Attendance: 18,232
Man of the Match: Jonathan Bornstein (CHI)
Chicago Fire
DC United
