NYC FC defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe against Fire’s outside midfielder David Accam. (photo courtesy of Chicago Fire)
Goalkeeping error contributes to 1-0 Chicago win
by Dan Gaichas, Chicago Fire beat reporter
It’s been 20 days since the Chicago Fire last played, but they hardly looked rusty as they defeated New York City FC, 1-0, in front of the season’s largest crowd at Toyota Park (19,124). The Fire have their first three-match win streak in league play since 2013 while NYCFC’s winless streak is now at six.
The goal came off a goalkeeping howler from Ryan Meara. Meara mishandled a backpass and David Accam took the ball away and slotted it into an open net for his first goal of the season.
“You just have to gamble on the pitch and that’s what I did. I just went straight in the box and I got it and I scored,” said Accam. “I wasn’t surprised because when you work really hard, things come for you. We worked really hard. I’m not surprised I got the goal.”
An error by NYC FC goalkeeper Ryan Meara on a back pass contributed to Chicago’s 1-0 lead. (photo courtesy of Chicago Fire)
It got worse for NYCFC four minutes later when Andrew Jacobson received a straight red for denying Accam a goal scoring opportunity on a breakaway.
However, it was the visitors who had the two best chances after the sending off. Mix Diskerud unleashed a rocket shot in the 41st minute that Sean Johnson had to parry over the bar. Mehdi Ballouchy came close a minute before halftime shooting on the volley saved by Johnson. That would be the last shot on target for NYCFC for the remainder of the match.
The Fire would have no fewer that 18 attempts on goal in the second half to NYCFC’s one. The only thing missing was the finish for the Fire. Ryan Meara ended up making five saves in the second half including a double save in the 83rd minute. Harry Shipp hit the woodwork in the 51st minute as did Accam in the 15th.
Still, the Fire were hardly threatened in the second half and held on for the 1-0 win to vault to fourth in the Eastern Conference.
“It was a good home win for us,” said Fire Head Coach Frank Yallop. “The sending off early in the first half makes a bit of a difference in the game in NYC’s point of view. But from our point of view, I think our attacking play without the finishing touch was very good. The manner of how we played second half was excellent. I was pleased with the overall performance
other than maybe getting a few more goals.”
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-David Accam (unassisted) 20’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NYC-Andrew Jacobson (sent off, denying a goal scoring opportunity) 24’
NYC-Jeb Brovsky (caution, reckless foul) 26’
CHI-Matt Watson (caution, reckless tackle) 28’
CHI-Adailton (caution, dissent) 90+3’
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-1-1): #25-Sean Johnson; #6-Eric Gehrig, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #4-Adailton, #3-Joevin Jones; #19-Harry Shipp, #8-Matt Watson, #2-Matt Polster, #11-David Accam; #10-Shaun Maloney; #23-Guly do Prado (#24-Quincy Amarikwa 66’)
Subs not used: #18-Jon Busch, #5-Lovel Palmer, #34-Razvan Cocis, #7-Jason Johnson, #21-Chris Ritter, #77-Kennedy Igboananike
NEW YORK CITY FC (4-3-3): #18-Ryan Meara; #30-Javier Calle (#23-Matthew Dunn 38’), #17-Chris Wingert, #3-Kwame Watson-Siriboe, #5-Jeb Brovsky; #4-Andrew Jacobson, #10-Mix Diskerud, #20-Medhi Ballouchy (#26-Sebastian Velasquez 72’); #11-Ned Grabavoy (C), #32-Adam Nemec (#14-Patrick Mullins 34’), #19-Khiry Shelton
Subs not used: #25-Eirik Johansen, #22-Pablo Alvarez, #15-Thomas McNamara, #88-Kwadwo Poku, #26-Sebastian Velasquez
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 24-8 NYC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 7-4 NYC
FOULS: CHI 10-12 NYC
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-0 NYC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-3 NYC
SAVES: CHI 4-6 NYC
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee’s Assistants: Claudio Badea, James Conlee
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
Weather: Cloudy and 54º
Attendance: 19,124
Man of the Match: David Accam (CHI)
