Photo: Leslie Smith
Chicago Fire 1-0 Toronto FC
CHICAGO, IL—A perfect ending to a perfect homestand courtesy of Miguel Navarro and Kacper Przybylko as the Fire defeated Toronto FC, 1-0, at Soldier Field. For the Fire, it is their third successive victory, fifth win in their last six league matches, and propels them to eighth in the Eastern Conference table. Meanwhile, Toronto FC drop their sixth successive match and have their winless streak away from BMO Field extended to 15 dating back to last season.
The Fire had the better of play in the first half, but for the longest time could not get the finishing touch or were stopped by former Fire keeper Sean Johnson who made four saves on the night.
Toronto FC would build attacks, but would have shots blocked by Fire defenders (five in total) or lose possession to them. It would not be until the 73rd minute that TFC would get a shot on target—which turned out to be their only one.
Perhaps earlier this season, this would have been a match where the Fire would wind up with a 0-0 or a loss to a late goal. However, it would be the Fire who would get the goal in the 90th minute as Miguel Navarro sent a cross into the area which was headed in by Kacper Przybylko for his fourth goal of the season.
Fire head coach Frank Klopas praised his team’s resilience in what he said was a difficult match since this was the third in a week for the Fire.
“Yeah, I think it just sometimes, it takes time for things to come together and stuff like that. I felt that we always had the quality in the team and it was just about working extremely hard and believing. I think there is a strong belief within the group right now. Obviously, results do help in that belief, but the guys are committed and the belief is getting stronger. But like I said, there is this break now and I think that it gives us an opportunity to recover, I think, physically and mentally, and then get ready for Leagues Cup.”
The Fire will get 12 days before their Leagues Cup tilt at Minnesota United on Thursday, July 27th at 7:30pm CT on Apple TV. The Fire’s next league match will be at home against Orlando City SC on Sunday, August 20th at 7:30pm also on Apple TV.
For more of Leslie Smith’s photos from the match, please click on the link.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Kacper Przybylko (Navarro) 90
BOOKING SUMMARY:
TOR-Raoul Peretta (caution, tactical foul) 55
CHI-Rafael Czichos (caution, tactical foul) 76
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #34-Chris Brady; #24-Jonathan Dean (#2-Arnaud Souquet 89), #22-Mauricio Pineda, #5-Rafael Czichos, #6-Miguel Navarro; #21-Fabian Herbers (#20-Jairo Torres 72), #30-Gaston Gimenez (#4-Carlos Teran 79); #7-Maren Haile-Selassie (#11-Kacper Przybylko 89), #10-Xherdan Shaqiri, #17-Brian Gutierrez; #19-Georgios Koutsias (#23-Kei Kamara 46)
Subs not used: #18-Spencer Richey, #3-Alonso Aceves, #27-Kendall Burks, #32-Missael Rodriguez, #4-Carlos Teran
TORONTO FC (4-4-2): #1-Sean Johnson; #19-Kobe Franklin, #27-Shane O’Neill (#2-Matt Hedges 69), #17-Sigurd Rosted (#6-Aime Mabika 63), #28-Raoul Peretta (#-23-Brandon Servania 69); #29-Deandre Kerr (#52-Alonso Coello 52), #5-Franco Ibarra, #21-Jonathan Osorio, #7-Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty; #20-Ayo Akinola (#11-Latif Blessing 52), #9-CJ Sapong
Subs not used: #30-Tomas Romero, #81-Themi Antonoglou, #77-Jordan Peruzza, #47-Kosi Thompson
EXPECTED GOALS: CHI 1.01-0.70 TOR
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-11 TOR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-1 TOR
FOULS: CHI 11-12 TOR
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-2 TOR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 0-0 TOR
SAVES: CHI 1-4 TOR
Referee: Sergii Boiko
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Mike Nickerson
4th Official: Danielle Chesky
VAR: Greg Dopka
AVAR: TJ Zablocki
Attendance: 18,246
Weather: Partly Sunny and 77º
Man of the Match: Maren Haile-Selassie (CHI)
