BRIDGEVIEW, IL–This was truly one of those matches where the Fire had a good match, but miscues that led to two goals for Toronto FC were enough to ensure that the effort would not be enough to get at least a point. Toronto FC went away 2-1 winners in their first ever win at Toyota Park at the 11th time of asking. The loss snaps a 12-match home unbeaten streak for the Fire.
The first mistake came after Luis Solignac made an errant pass to Michael Bradley who sent passed to Will Johnson who sent a long ball to an unmarked Justin Morrow on the left side. Morrow picked out Jozy Altidore with a low cross and Altidore did the rest in the 33rd minute.
The second mistake came in the 52nd minute as Sean Johnson slipped as he threw a ball out of his area and right to Altidore. Altidore set up Jonathan Osorio for an open net goal—his first of the season—as Johnson was well off his line when he threw the ball.
The Fire’s attacking efforts all match finally paid off five minutes later as John Goossens got a cross to Michael de Leeuw who headed in for his fourth goal of the season.
Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic sent out both David Accam and David Arshakyan for all out attack, but the end product would not come from any of their eight other shots in the second half.
“It’s of course a downer,” said de Leeuw. “I think the first half we played very well and created chances. At the end, we did this to ourselves. It’s [expletive]that we lose 2-1 because we created six 100% chances.
“If we played this every week, we’re going to win. Sometimes, you lose when you play and a game like that was today. We played well and created chanced, but in the end, we got nothing.”
Despite the loss, Paunovic says the team still feels optimistic, if also very disappointed.
“We did great today. The game was fantastic. We pushed for the win from the first second of the game. It was difficult because we had a very good opponent in front of us. We just didn’t convert our opportunities. There were a lot of very clear opportunities to score. But the performance, spirit, and the way we played, we have to be happy with that. We just move forward. It’s a great opportunity for us to continue improving.
“It was tough for us to lose this game and we would not even be happy with a tie in the end. That’s how the locker room feels now. We wouldn’t be happy with a tie, so I think we have not only optimistic group, but a group that wants to win and knows how to win. From now on, we just have to improve. There is nothing else. There is a constant search to be the best we can be.”
David Accam started on the bench after returning from international duty with Ghana. Paunovic admitted that things ‘probably’ would have been different if Accam started the match, but he said that Accam feel like starting after the long travel.
“That’s something we can’t go back and regret because the decision was common,” said Paunovic. “We spoke before the game. David said that after the break with the national team and the long travel, he didn’t feel like starting and that’s it. We want our guys to participate in the decision.”
The next match is Friday night at home against DC United. Kickoff is at 7pm on UniMas.
SCORING SUMMARY:
TOR-Jozy Altidore (Morrow, W. Johnson) 33
TOR-Jonathan Osorio (Altidore) 52
CHI-Michael de Leeuw (Goossens) 57
BOOKING SUMMARY:
None
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #25-Sean Johnson; #4-Johan Kappelhof, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #66-Joao Meira, #3-Brandon Vincent (#10-David Arshakyan 78); #30-Razvan Cocis (C), #2-Matt Polster (#11-David Accam 56); #12-Arturo Alvarez, #8-Michael de Leeuw, #7-John Goossens; #9-Luis Solignac
Subs not used: #28-Matt Lampson, #5-Michael Harrington, #6-Eric Gehrig, #19-Khaly Thiam, #26-Michael Stephens
TORONTO FC (4-4-2): #25-Alex Bono; #2-Justin Morrow, #3-Drew Moor, #15-Eriq Zavaleta, #33-Steven Beitashour; #7-Will Johnson, #4-Michael Bradley, #18-Marky Delgado (#6-Nick Hagglund 76), #21-Jonathan Osorio; #17-Jozy Altidore (#22-Jordan Hamilton 83), #87-Toisant Ricketts (#31-Armando Cooper 63)
Subs not used: #1-Clint Irwin, #19-Daniel Lovitz, #8-Benoit Cheyrou, #9-Tsubasa Endoh
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-14 TOR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-3 TOR
FOULS: CHI 12-6 TOR
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-1 TOR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 10-2 TOR
SAVES: CHI 1-3 TOR
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
Referee’s Assistants: Chris Strickland, Eric Weisbrod
4th Official: Mark Geiger
Attendance: 18,391
Weather: Partly Sunny and 71º
Man of the Match: Jozy Altidore (TOR)
