Chicago Fire FC 2-0 New York City FC
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—Two years to the day that Chicago Fire FC last played a competitive match at SeatGeek Stadium, they returned with one of their better performances of the season with a 2-0 win over New York City FC. The win ends a five-match winless streak for the Fire.
All of a sudden, NYCFC are in a four-way tie for fourth in the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Orlando and just two points clear of CF Montreal in eighth.
The visitors came close first in the 23rd minute after Maxi Morales struck a shot off the crossbar. The Fire would then hit the bar twice in quick succession in minute 42 though Robert Beric and Jhon Espinoza.
It appeared as though the Fire’s luck would continue (not in a good way), but it would change for the better three minutes into the second half. Alvaro Medran caught NYCFC off guard with a quick free kick to Robert Beric who beat Sean Johnson far post to put the Fire ahead.
“We had one second before this eye contact, and he played the ball,” said Beric. “In that split second, there was a space. He made a perfect pass for me and then I scored. So, I think it was a nice action.”
The Fire doubled their lead in the 66th minute after Federico Navarro’s shot took a slight deflection off Alex Callens and caught Johnson wrong-footed. It is Federico’s first goal for the Fire.
“Yeah, good performance for him,” said Fire head coach Raphael Wicky. “He brings to the table what we expect from him. He had an early yellow card, which is not easy in that position then to manage your game over 90 minutes, especially when you are as aggressive as he is. He did very well being aggressive, but not over aggressive, not really risking a second yellow card. So, I am happy for him and great performance, as well. But overall, I have to say it was a really, really good team performance tonight.”
NYCFC would not have a real chance shortly after a Santiago Rodriguez effort was chalked off for offside.
The Fire head North of the Border to take on Toronto FC on Sunday for a 3pm kickoff on WGN-TV.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Robert Beric (Medran) 48
CHI-Federico Navarro (Beric) 66
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NYC-Jesus Medina (caution, endangering the goalkeeper) 9
CHI-Federico Navarro (caution, tactical foul) 16
NYC-Nicolas Acevedo (caution, reckless tackle) 27
CHI-Gaston Gimenez (caution, reckless foul) 59
CHICAGO FIRE (3-1-4-2): #32-Gabriel Slonina; #4-Johan Kappelhof, #22-Mauricio Pineda, #3-Jonathan Bornstein; #30-Gaston Gimenez; #14-Jhon Espinoza, #31-Federico Navarro, #10-Alvaro Medran (#8-Luka Stojanovic 90), #6-Miguel Navarro; #21-Fabian Herbers (#7-Ignacio Aliseda 85), #27-Robert Beric (#9-Chinoso Offor 73)
Subs not used: #1-Bobby Shuttleworth, #38-Alex Monis, #9-Chinoso Offor, #28-Elliot Collier, #20-Wyatt Omsberg, #99-Stanislav Ivanov, #37-Javier Casas
NEW YORK CITY FC (4-2-3-1): #1-Sean Johnson; #3-Aaron Tinnerholm, #4-Maxime Chanot, #6-Alex Callens, #20-Gudmundur Thorarinsson (#12-Malte Amundsen 76); #26-Nicolas Acevedo (#42-Santiago Rodriguez 58), #7-Alfredo Morales (#9-Heber 85); #55-Keaton Parks, #10-Maxi Morales, #19-Jesus Medina (#17-Ismael Tajouri-Shradi 76); #43-Talles Magno (#8-Thiago 58)
Subs not used: #13-Luis Barraza, #23-Gedion Zelalem, #24-Tayvon Gray, #21-Andres Jasson
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-9 NYC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-2 NYC
FOULS: CHI 15-13 NYC
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-2 NYC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-9 NYC
SAVES: CHI 2-3 NYC
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Peter Balciunas, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
Weather: Sunny and 77º
Attendance: 5,593
Man of the Match: Federico Navarro (CHI)
