Courtesy of Dan Gaichas of Windy City Soccer
On the 17th anniversary of the their winning MLS Cup over D.C. United, the Chicago Fire completed their worst-ever season with a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls who win their second Supporters’ Shield in three years (both times clinching with a win over the Fire).
The Fire finish the 2015 season 8-20-6 with their lowest-ever point total (30 points) and an 8-8-1 record at home. The average attendance for 2015 was 16,003 which is good for 19th place in the league.
Interim head coach Brian Bliss made five changes to the squad that lost to DC United the previous week, including starting Alec Kann for the first time and a back four including Patrick Doody, Chris Ritter, and Matt Polster along with Jeff Larentowicz.
However, the Fire were a goal down after just eight minutes after a corner in which Sal Zizzo flicked a header to a criminally unmarked Bradley Wright-Phillips for a tap-in.
Bradley Wright-Phillips and Mike Grella celebrate their victory over the Chicago Fire (photo credit: Don MacGregor)
In the 35th minute, Patrick Nyarko was whistled for taking down Mike Grella in the area and referee Ricardo Salazar pointed to the spot. Sacha Kljestan converted the spot kick to double the Red Bulls’ advantage.
The Fire did battle back and were ultimately rewarded when Patrick Doody’s cross was set up by Patrick Nyarko for Gilberto to score from close range in the 78th minute. But that would be as close as they would get and the Red Bulls would celebrate a Supporters’ Shield and entry into the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.
“Off the run of play, I don’t think we have too much to be ashamed about,” said Bliss. “We battled. We fought. We got back into the game in the second half and just couldn’t turn the tide. Make no mistake about it. The Red Bulls are a good team.”
It’s been a difficult season to say the very least, especially for David Accam who despite his club-leading 10 goals was injured in the preseason and spent time injured during the season. Accam would come on as a sub on this night.
“For me, I don’t think I had a great season. I came in injured, really tired from the AFCON and a long season in Sweden, so I didn’t really have a good preseason. That contributed a lot to my injuries, and not having a good season this year.”
Now the onus is on new general manager Nelson Rodriguez to rebuild this team as a long, miserable 2015 season is now followed by a long offseason for the fifth time in six years. There is simply a lot of work to do to make the Fire a winner again.
SCORING SUMMARY:
NY-Bradley Wright-Phillips (Zizzo, Kljestan) 8’
NY-Sacha Kljestan (penalty kick) 35’
CHI-Gilberto (Nyarko, Doody) 78’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Matt Polster (caution, persistent infringement) 71’
CHI-Jeff Larentowicz (caution, reckless foul) 74’
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2): #1-Alec Kann; #2-Matt Polster, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #21-Chris Ritter (#55-Daneil Cyrus 21’), #22-Patrick Doody; #14-Patrick Nyarko, #30-Razvan Cocis, #8-Matt Watson (#77-Kennedy Igboananike 84’), #3-Joevin Jones (#11-David Accam 58’); #19-Harry Shipp; #29-Gilberto
Subs not used: #18-Jon Busch, #5-Lovel Palmer, #26-Michael Stephens, #17-Colin Fernandez
NEW YORK RED BULLS (4-2-3-1): #31-Luis Robles; #15-Sal Zizzo, #55-Damien Perrinelle, #20-Matt Miazga, #92-Kemar Lawrence; #10-Lloyd Sam (#98-Shaun Wright-Phillips 75’), #8-Felipe Martins; #16-Sacha Kljestan, #11-Dax McCarty (C), #13-Mike Grella (#30-Gonzalo Veron 67’); #99-Bradley Wright-Phillips (#23-Ronald Zubar 84’)
Subs not used: #18-Kyle Reynish, #5-Connor Lade, #27-Sean Davis, #6-Anthony Wallace
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 15-8 NY
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-8 NY
FOULS: CHI 8-4 NY
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-4 NY
CORNER KICKS: CHI 8-4 NY
SAVES: CHI 6-4 NY
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee’s Assistants: Brian Dunn, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Mathieu Bordeau
Weather: Clear and 59º
Attendance: 19,850
Man of the Match: Sacha Kljestan (NY)
