Photo Credit: Jeff Vorva of Southwest Regional Publishing
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—Despite drawing on Thursday, the Fire did eliminate Columbus from the playoffs. On Sunday, the Fire effectively did the same to New England by winning, 2-1, in their home finale. The Fire can still avoid the wooden spoon with Houston losing at home to LA and the Revolution are still mathematically alive, but their chances are improbable given the superior goal difference Philadelphia has.
The announced attendance was 18,976 and the average attendance for the season was 15,602 which was good for 19th in the league.
The Fire opened the more aggressive of the two sides and were rewarded in the 9th minute after Brandon Vincent found an unmarked Michael de Leeuw for an easy finish in front of the six-yard box. But despite being mostly dominant, the Fire could not add to their lead and Diego Fagundez would add to their misery two minutes before halftime as he scored from just outside the area after the Fire could not clear the ball away.
The Fire would be reduced to ten in the 54th minute after Luis Solignac foolishly lashed out at London Woodberry during an off-the-ball incident. New England nearly punished them at the hour mark, but Juan Agudelo headed off the crossbar and Darrius Barnes’s rebound header bounced right to Sean Johnson.
In minute 73, New England would be reduced to ten. After David Accam attempted to pickpocket the ball from keeper Brad Knighton, Knighton dragged Accam down and referee Baldomero Toledo gave the former his marching orders.
“It was just a lapse in being aware of where [Accam] was,” said Knighton. “On the last play they had finished down through the flank and they put a ball across the goal and he was standing near the boards and I was just trying to get the ball in play quickly. I just totally lost my train of thought and I thought I had seen everybody in front of me. It was just one of those unfortunate things that had to happen. It’s heartbreaking.”
Bobby Shuttleworth came in goal for New England, but would be picking the ball out of the back of the net after David Accam got in behind the defense after a long ball from Jonathan Campbell and make no mistake ten minutes from the end.
Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic was glad to give the fans something positive to take as the home slate concludes, but also notes that there is one more match.
“I think that the team had a great response today setting that goal to win the game because of our fans and being the last game at home this season,” said Paunovic. “Also, I think that we are not done. We have one more game and it’s important for us in the next game against Toronto that we really forge that mentality, that we are talking about the whole season which is – we never give up, we play hard, every game is about the win, and we have to be on the same page. We cannot go to Toronto and just see what happens. We have got to go with our game plan we will prepare during this week. And then play the game to win. With that said, I think it’s very important to know that we have to finish the season on the positive side and then we can, during the offseason, continue building and working with the guys on their individual plans and everything else that we have to do before they go for vacation and then when they come back they have to come back better than they went home.”
David Accam concurred in winning this one for the fans.
“I think it means a lot. For me, the fans deserve much more than what we have given them this season. Today, it was all about the fans, about us giving everything we had in the pitch for the fans. That’s what we showed today, we went in to win it for the fans, and we did it.”
Asked what the team needs for next season, Matt Polster would like a little more continuity within the squad and less turnover.
“I think things are still coming together,” said Polster. “It’s been a long year with a lot of turnover from the beginning of the season. I know it’s 33 games into it, but I think having too much turnover every year is tough just in general. If we can get a core group of guys, keep this team for next year, and fill off that, I think you’re going to see something a little bit different. I think having more chemistry together as a team will help us.”
Before next season, there is one more match this season. That is at Toronto FC at 3pm CT on CSN Chicago.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Michael de Leeuw (Vincent, Accam) 9
NE-Diego Fagundez (unassisted) 43
CHI-David Accam (Campbell) 80
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NE-Kei Kamara (caution, delaying a restart) 29
CHI-Khaly Thiam (caution, reckless foul) 43
NE-London Woodberry (caution, tactical foul) 51
CHI-Luis Solignac (sent off, violent conduct) 54
NE-Brad Knighton (sent off, serious foul play) 73
CHI-Matt Polster (caution, delaying a restart) 93+
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2): #25-Sean Johnson; #4-Johan Kappelhof, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #66-Joao Meira, #3-Brandon Vincent; #12-Arturo Alvarez (#30-Razvan Cocis 67), #2-Matt Polster, #19-Khaly Thiam, #11-David Accam (#7-John Goossens 95+); #8-Michael de Leeuw (#10-David Arshakyan 85), #9-Luis Solignac
Subs not used: #23-Patrick McLain, #5-Michael Harrington, #6-Eric Gehrig, #26-Michael Stephens
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (4-4-2): #18-Brad Knighton; #23-Jose Gonclaves, #25-Darrius Barnes (#22-Bobby Shuttleworth 75), #2-Andrew Farrell, #28-London Woodberry (#33-Donnie Smith 58); #6-Scott Caldwell, #24-Lee Nguyen (C), #11-Kelyn Rowe (#7-Gershon Koffie 71), #14-Diego Fagundez; #17-Juan Agudelo, #13-Kei Kamara
Subs not used: #7-Gerhson Koffie, #16-Daigo Kobayashi, #4-Steve Neumann, #8-Chris Tierney, #10-Teal Bunbury
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 14-12 NE
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-4 NE
FOULS: CHI 14-11 NE
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-2 NE
CORNER KICKS: CHI 6-4 NE
SAVES: CHI 2-3 NE
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee’s Assistants: Mike Rottersman, Anthony Vasoli
4th Official: Sorin Stoica
Weather: Cloudy and 68º
Attendance: 18,976
Man of the Match: Michael de Leeuw (CHI)
