BRIDGEVIEW, IL–A Fire rookie got his first professional goal, but an ex-Fire player got the equalizer as the Fire and drew DC United 1-1 in very dreary conditions at Toyota Park.
The Fire were without several potential regulars like David Accam (knee), Alex Morrell (calf), John Goossens (knee), and Matt Polster (calf). However, the Fire did have Arturo Alvarez and Jonathan Campbell and they connected on the Fire’s strike in the 41st minute. Alvarez’s free kick would be flicked on by the rookie defender to put the Fire ahead.
For a time, the Fire were actually leading the shots and possession stats, but that would change in the second half and the visitors were rewarded in the 65th minute when Patrick Nyarko headed in a cross from Luciano Acosta. Possession was 60-40 in favor of DC in the second half and shots were 7-4 DC.
Both teams had late chances in stoppage time, but goalies Matt Lampson and Travis Worra would be there to deny them.
It was an emotional return for Nyarko to return to the ground he called home for eight seasons.
“Besides the result, it was a little bit emotional,” said Nyarko. “I spent eight years here. To play against them, in a game that mattered, I didn’t think it would happen, but you never can predict the future. It felt good. I was proud of my teammates with how we played given the circumstances with the weather.
“We got a good away point and dominated the game. We felt like we should’ve gone on and win the game. But given the circumstances, we’ll take the point on the road. It felt good to be back and play the whole game.”
There were no celebrations when he did score, he was just thinking to go get the ball and go for a match winner.
For the Fire, head coach Veljko Paunovic is not frustrated with the result given the team he has and what they are trying to learn.
“No doubt that we wanted to win this game more than anything,” said Paunovic. “We had the opportunity, but still we have to understand that we are a young team. A team that’s in the process which requires a lot of effort to win games. I’m happy with one point. Of course, they also has good opportunities to win the game and that’s where we are at this point.
“We have to build that momentum that we had against (NYCFC), momentum where we were close to get to the next level after that game and the game against Montreal that hurt us a lot. But now we are recovering from that. In the end, a draw was a fair result.”
Another thing his team needs to learn is patience after again dropping a lead in the second half.
“I think we wanted to finish the match as soon as possible,” said Paunovic. We lost our patience and we lost control of the game even though at some point of the second half it was better. But it’s normal. I would love to see our team playing the best possible way and winning games. But I’m very confident and very, very happy with our guys because they are trying hard and doing the best they can do to get to that next level which is improving all phases of the game and most of all winning games.”
The Fire have ten more days off before traveling to Vancouver on May 11th at the start of a arduous road trip that sees them go to Vancouver and then across to the opposite side of the continent to New England three days later, and New York Red Bulls four days after that. Kickoff at BC Place is at 9pm on CSN Chicago Plus.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Jonathan Campbell (Alvarez) 41
DC-Patrick Nyarko (Acosta) 65
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Kennedy Igboananike (caution, tactical foul) 44
DC-Chris Rolfe (caution, reckless tackle) 45+2
DC-Steven Birnbaum (caution, reckless foul) 82
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-1-1): #28-Matt Lampson; #13-Rodrigo Ramos, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #4-Johan Kappelhof, #5-Michael Harrington; #21-Nick LaBrocca (#15-Joey Calistri 53), #26-Michael Stephens (#66-Joao Meira 71), #30-Razvan Cocis (C), #77-Kennedy Igboananike (#17-Collin Fernandez 87); #12-Arturo Alvarez; #9-Gilberto
Subs not used: #23-Patrick McLain, #3-Brandon Vincent, #6-Eric Gehrig, #11-David Accam
DC UNITED (4-4-2): #48-Travis Worra; #2-Taylor Kemp, #32-Bobby Boswell (C), #15-Steven Birnbaum, #5-Sean Franklin; #13-Lamar Neagle, #18-Chris Rolfe (#33-Julian Buescher 72), #25-Jared Jeffery, #12-Patrick Nyarko; #11-Luciano Acosta (#26-Rob Vincent 88), #9-Alvaro Saborio
Subs not used: #1-Tally Hall, #6-Kofi Opare, #34-Luke Mishu, #17-Miguel Aguilar
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 8-10 DC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 1-3 DC
FOULS: CHI 12-14 DC
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-1 DC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-3 DC
SAVES: CHI 2-0 DC
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Referee’s Assistants: Kevin Klinger, Jeffrey Greeson
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
Weather: Rain and 48º
Attendance: 13,114
Man of the Match: Jonathan Campbell (CHI)
Chicago Fire
DC United
