Photo: Amanda Cortese
Chicago Fire FC 1-0 St. Louis CITY SC
CHICAGO, IL—On Tuesday, the third Frank Klopas area began with a cup win over St. Louis CITY SC at SeatGeek Stadium. On Saturday, the era continued with a league win over St. Louis, 1-0, at Soldier Field. The Fire remain unbeaten at home in league play at 2-0-5.
Rafael Czichos, who did not play on Tuesday, was on the bench to start, but had to come on in the 34th minute after Carlos Teran went off with a knock after colliding with Celio Pompeu. Six minutes later, Czichos got on the end of a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick and beat Roman Burki far post for what would be the match’s only score.
The Fire came very close to a second in the 48th minute after Fabian Herbers blasted one off the crossbar. Eduard Löwen came close a couple times, having a shot from distance saved by Chris Brady in the first half and then just skimming one over the bar in the 52nd minute.
Later attempts by the Fire to add to their lead were hampered by the lack of speed and lack of precision in their final pass. St. Louis could not really get anything going themselves, and found themselves down to ten men for the first time in MLS play in the 70th minute after John Nelson picked up his second yellow.
Klopas hailed the atmosphere and the commitment of the team in managing to hold on to a lead as opposed to four of the draws this season where the Fire had leads and ended up with draws.
“Listen, for me, it was a great game, not only because we want but I think just the way the team played and the commitment of the group, how they fought and they left everything,” said Klopas. “That was incredible and obviously the fans helped so much – there was a great energy in the stadium. I think also they got more energized the way the team played. I think there were good moments we had that we moved the ball well. St. Louis is a very good team. Very good team. Very organized, not easy to break down. Very physical, very direct, but I’m extremely, extremely proud of the team because the way they played, they competed. This is the kind of team, I told them, that the fan base, the city, the way they played, can get behind and be excited about.”
Shaqiri, who arguably had his best match this season for the Fire, sees wins like today’s providing confidence for the group.
“I think the confidence is not only for me, but for the whole team,” said Shaqiri. “I think it’s important that I’m trying to help the team with my performances. I try to be as fit as possible and I’m feeling better now. And yeah, but I still can improve and I think I’m not the person I was still, but I’m in a good way.”
The Fire have a short rest before traveling to Charlotte FC on Wednesday night. Kickoff is at 6:30pm CT on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass.
In other news, with the Chicago Bears schedule now released the Wednesday, October 4th match against Inter Miami is expected to move to SeatGeek Stadium as the Bears play the next night at Soldier Field against Washington. The Fire will be on the road on weekends the Bears will be at home in September and vice-versa.
(Editor’s Note: For more of Amanda Cortese’s photos, please click on the link)
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Rafael Czichos (Shaqiri) 40
BOOKING SUMMARY:
STL-Miguel Perez (caution, tactical foul) 26
STL-John Nelson (caution, reckless foul) 43
STL-Niko Gioacchini (caution, reckless tackle) 49
CHI-Gaston Gimenez (caution, reckless tackle) 59
CHI-Fabian Herbers (caution, reckless foul) 63
STL-John Nelson (sent off, second bookable offense) 70
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #34-Chris Brady; #2-Arnaud Souquet, #4-Carlos Teran (#5-Rafael Czichos 34), #22-Miguel Pineda, #6-Miguel Navarro; #31-Federico Navarro, #30-Gaston Gimenez; #21-Fabian Herbers (#19-Georgios Koutsias 72), #10-Xherdan Shaqiri, #17-Brian Gutierrez (#20-Jairo Torres 89); #23-Kei Kamara (#11-Kacper Przybylko 72)
Subs not used: #18-Spencer Richey, #3-Alonso Aceves, #32-Missael Rodriguez, #27-Kendall Burks, #16-Wyatt Omsberg
ST. LOUIS CITY SC (4-3-1-2): #1-Roman Burki; #2-Jake Nerwinski (#8-Jared Stroud 64), #24-Lucas Bartlett (#15-Josh Yaro 77), #22-Kyle Hiebert, #14-John Nelson; #19-Indiana Vassilev, #28-Miguel Perez (#6-Njabulo Blom 46), #7-Tomas Ostrak (#30-Isak Jensen 64); #10-Eduard Löwen (#46-Caden Glover 77); #12-Celio Pompeu, #11-Niko Gioacchini
Subs not used: #39-Ben Lundt, #25-Aziel Jackson, #20-Akil Watts, #23-Jon Bell
EXPECTED GOALS: CHI 0.8-0.4 STL
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 9-8 STL
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-2 STL
FOULS: CHI 13-15 STL
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-0 STL
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-3 STL
SAVES: CHI 2-5 STL
Referee: Filip Dujic
Assistant Referees: Kevin Klinger, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth Official: Jon Freemon
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Rene Parra
Weather: Light Rain and 60
Attendance: 18,231
Man of the Match: Xherdan Shaqiri (CHI)
