Charlotte FC 2-1 Chicago Fire
CHARLOTTE, NC—A new (old) coach, but a reversion to old ways as the Fire had a 1-0 lead over Charlotte FC only to lose it and the match, 2-1, at Bank of America Stadium. It was a reverse of the match in Charlotte back in August where the Fire came from 0-1 down to win.
The Fire withstood early pressure from Charlotte and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 29th. Xherdan Shaqiri sent Kacper Przybylko on his way in alone on Kristijan Kahlina. Kahlina saved the initial shot, but Przybylko pounced on the rebound for an easy finish.
Charlotte returned to press again and inserted substitute Brandon Cambridge in the 59th minute and adjusted the formation. It would work wonders for the Crown as Justin Meram was able to pick Cambridge out on flank leaving the Fire defense exposed and leveling matters at 1-1 in the 68th minute.
Cambridge would get his second nine minutes from time as an attempted clearance by Mauricio Pineda went right to Cambridge, again unmarked, and the latter would beat Chris Brady far post again for what would be the match winner.
The Fire hardly did anything of note in the second half apart from conceding the goals to the substitute Cambridge.
Fire head coach Frank Klopas does not think the team is suffering a mental block when it comes to keeping leads (this is the fourth blown lead of the season).
“I think it’s just things that, you know, if you bring it up all the time, I think maybe it’s in the players’ mind and stuff like that, and things occur,” said Klopas. “I think the most important thing you can do is get doubt out of your mind. When you do stuff in training and you’re well-prepared. I think that’s the thing. I think obviously the guys get fatigued. You rely on the team. You bring certain guys in and you can just see in certain moments, some guys need more under their legs to maintain that sharpness.
But overall, I don’t think that there’s a mental block within the players because I think the most important thing is that we go through situations in training where they are able to get confidence, but then the ability in the game when things are going fast, things are moving, these are the moments where they have to stick together. We definitely have a lot of leaders out there where they can communicate. It’s not always easy from the bench to address certain things. I think that’s why the preparation is the key and training. Once they do that, I think that’s what gives the players confidence.”
Kei Kamara did not play in this match as he was being rested. The Fire’s congested fixture list in May continues Saturday at home as they take on Atlanta United. Kickoff is at 7:30pm CT on Apple TV.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Kacper Przybylko (unassisted) 29
CLT-Brandon Cambridge (Meram) 68
CLT-Brandon Cambridge (unassisted) 81
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Gaston Gimenez (caution, tactical foul) 20
CHI-Brian Gutierrez (caution, reckless tackle) 39
CLT-Adilson Malanda (caution, tactical foul) 45+1
CLT-Kristijan Kahlina (caution, dissent) 56
CHI-Jairo Torres (caution, reckless tackle) 72
CLT-Karol Swiderski (caution, dissent) 80
CLT Derrick Jones (caution, reckless foul) 87
CLT-Jan Sobocinski (caution, dissent) 88
CHI-Georgios Koutsias (caution, reckless foul) 90+1
CHARLOTTE FC (4-3-3): #1-Kristijan Kahlina; #14-Nathan Byrne, #2-Jan Sobocinski, #24-Jaylin Lindsey (#36-Brandon Cambridge 59), #29-Adilson Malanda (#6-Bill Tuiloma 84); #20-Derrick Jones, #8-Ashley Westwood, #13-Brandt Bronico; #11-Karol Swiderski, #9-Enzo Copetti, #22-Justin Meram (#19-Christopher Hegardt 90)
Subs not used: #23-Pablo Sisniega, #33-Patrick Agyemang, #28-Joseph Mora, #35-Nicolas Scardina, #25-Harrison Afful, #58-David Poreba
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #34-Chris Brady; #2-Arnaud Souquet, #5-Rafael Czichos, #22-Mauricio Pineda, #6-Miguel Navarro (#3-Alonso Aceves 78); #31-Federico Navarro, #30-Gaston Gimenez; #7-Maren Haile-Selassie (#21-Fabian Herbers 69), #10-Xherdan Shaqiri, #17-Brian Gutierrez (#20-Jairo Torres 69); #11-Kacper Przybylko (#19-Georgios Koutsias 78)
Subs not used: #18-Spencer Richey, #32-Missael Rodriguez, #37-Javier Casas Jr., #19-Georgios Koutsias, #27-Kendall Burks, #3-Alonso Aceves, #16-Wyatt Omsberg
EXPECTED GOALS: CLT 0.79-1.46 CHI
TOTAL SHOTS: CLT 5-5 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: CLT 3-3 CHI
FOULS: CLT 10-14 CHI
OFFSIDES: CLT 0-5 CHI
CORNER KICKS: CLT 8-2 CHI
SAVES: CLT 4-3 CHI
Referee: Tori Penso
Referee’s Assistants: Jose Da Silva, Brooke Mayo
Fourth Official: Ismael Elfath
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Maggie Short
Weather: Sunny and 77º
Man of the Match: Brandon Cambridge (CLT)
