BRIDGEVIEW, IL—There are teams who find ways to win games. The Chicago Fire isn’t that team right now. Instead, just like the home game against New York Red Bulls, they fell behind, equalized, took the lead, and then conceded in second half stoppage time for a 2-2 draw.
For the Fire, they are now seven points out of sixth place with six matches to play and have yet to win whenever they have worn white jerseys since they started wearing them in 2014.
DC took the lead in the 19th minute after the Fire were called for an intentional back pass. Sean Johnson had to dive to save Johan Kappelhof’s errant back pass. The result was an indirect free kick on the edge of the six-yard box which was duly finished into the roof and over the wall of Fire players on the goal line by Rob Vincent.
The Fire responded in the 22nd minute when Razvan Cocis’s flicked a header that Bill Hamid was unable to handle for the equalizer. Hamid would let in another soft goal as David Accam took on the DC defense and managed a shot under Hamid in the 29th minute.
From there, DC pressed for an equalizer and got one two minutes into second half stoppage time. Patrick Mullins’s bicycle shot went off the bar. Patrick Nyarko had his shot saved by Johnson, but Bobby Boswell made the third chance the charm and it was another two points squandered by the Fire.
“It’s tough for us, but small defeats lead to great victories,” said Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic. “That’s how we look at this game. It’s something we learn from because that’s something that will make us better in the future if we have that approach.
“That’s something that I just can’t wait to happen. We going to continue working hard and encourage these guys who are committed 100% and doing their best. I really enjoy working with them. Until we get there, we will push hard and continue fighting.”
The Fire will travel to New York to face NYCFC next Friday night at 7pm on UniMas.
SCORING SUMMARY:
DC-Rob Vincent (Acosta) 19
CHI-Razvan Cocis (Alvarez) 22
CHI-David Accam (Cocis) 29
DC-Bobby Boswell (unassisted) 92+
BOOKING SUMMARY:
None
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-1-1): #25-Sean Johnson; #4-Johan Kappelhof, #5-Michael Harrington (#3-Brandon Vincent 76), #16-Jonathan Campbell, #66-Joao Meira; #30-Razvan Cocis (C), #2-Matt Polster; #12-Arturo Alvarez (#15-Joey Calistri 88), #9-Luis Solignac, #11-David Accam; #10-David Arshakyan (#19-Khaly Thiam 70)
Subs not used: #28-Matt Lampson, #6-Eric Gehrig, #26-Michael Stephens, #18-Drew Conner
DC UNITED (4-1-4-1): #28-Bill Hamid; #34-Luke Mishu (#14-Nick DeLeon 54), #15-Steve Birnbaum, #32-Bobby Boswell (C), #2-Taylor Kemp; #7-Marcelo Sarvas (#33-Julian Buescher 76); #8-Lloyd Sam (#13-Lamar Neagle 70), #11-Luciano Acosta, #26-Rob Vincent, #12-Patrick Nyarko; #16-Patrick Mullins
Subs not used: #48-Travis Worra, #20-Jalen Robinson, #77-Kennedy Igboananike, #9-Alvaro Saborio
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 17-19 DC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-6 DC
FOULS: CHI 7-8 DC
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-3 DC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 3-8 DC
SAVES: DC 1-6 CHI
Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee’s Assistants: Matthew Nelson, James Conlee
4th Official: David Gantar
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 79º
Attendance: 13,807
Man of the Match: Razvan Cocis (CHI)
