ORLANDO, FL—Chicago Fire FC came crashing back to Earth as the San Jose Earthquakes continued their magic in the second half with a 2-0 win that clinches Group B in the MLS is Back Tournament. The Fire, meanwhile, can still advance to the Round of 16 with a win on Thursday against Vancouver (8am CT, ESPN).
The Quakes controlled possession 70-30 in the first half, but were not able to do too much with the possession while the Fire did not do much when they had the ball at all.
In the second half, San Jose finally struck when Jackson Yuiell fed Cristian Espinoza who got by Francisco Calvo and powered the ball past Kenneth Kronholm into the upper 90 for the 1-0 advantage in the 58th minute.
Seven minutes from time, just like they failed to do four times last season in San Jose, the Fire failed to keep Chris Wondolowski off the score sheet just 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute after an assist from another substitute who came on 30 seconds prior in Carlos Fierro.
Despite the loss, the Fire are largely in control of their own destiny to advance to the Round of 16 with Thursday’s match coming up.
“It’s important to keep your heads up,” Fire head coach Raphael Wicky said. “It’s a football game. We lost a football game today. We won one the last time. You can’t be when you win on the top, and when you lose on the bottom. You have to keep steady emotions. We’re gonna stand up again, we’re gonna keep working, we’re a good team.”
The Fire will have another morning match on Thursday when they will face the Whitecaps at 8am CT on ESPN where a win will see them through to the knockout stage. The Quakes will be facing the third place team from either Group A, C, or D a week from Monday.
SCORING SUMMARY:
SJ-Cristian Espinoza (Yueill) 56
SJ-Chris Wondolowski (Fierro, Thompson) 83
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Boris Sekulic (caution, reckless tackle) 29
SJ-Florian Jungwirth (caution, tactical foul) 37
SJ-Judson (caution, unsporting behavior) 50
CHI-Alvaro Medran (caution, reckless foul) 53
CHI-Gaston Gimenez (caution, simulation) 58
CHI-Fabian Herbers (caution, reckless foul) 61
CHI-Mauricio Pineda (caution, reckless tackle) 62
SJ-Magnus Eriksson (caution, reckless foul) 86
CHICAGO FIRE (3-5-2): #18-Kenneth Kronholm; #2-Boris Sekulic (#7-Ignacio Aliseda 90), #22-Mauricio Pineda (#14-Djordje Mihailovic 71), #5-Francisco Calvo; #11-Przemyslaw Frankowski, #8-Luka Stojanovic (#21-Fabian Herbers 45+2), #30-Gaston Gimenez, #10-Alvaro Medran, #6-Miguel Angel Navarro; #9-CJ Sapong (#28-Elliot Collier 71), #27-Robert Beric
Subs not used: #24-Connor Sparrow, #32-Gabriel Slonina, #3-Jonathan Bornstein, #36-Andre Reynolds, #25-Nicholas Slonina, #20-Wyatt Omsberg, #13-Brandt Bronico,#37-Javier Casas
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (4-2-3-1): #17-Daniel Vega; #23-Florian Jungwirth, #37-Guram Kashia, #33-Paul Marie (#22-Tommy Thompson 69), #24-Nick Lima (#9-Danny Hoesen 82); #93-Judson (#8-Chris Wondolowski 82), #14-Jackson Yueill; #10-Cristian Espinoza (#21-Carlos Fierro 82), #7-Magnus Eriksson, #11-Vako (#6-Shea Salinas 69); #25-Andres Rios
Subs not used: #12-Matt Bersano, #4-Oswaldo Alanis, #15-Tanner Beason, #26-Eric Cavillo, #16-Jack Skahan, #96-Luis Felipe Fernandes, #44-Cade Cowell
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 8-11 SJ
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-3 SJ
FOULS: CHI 23-11 SJ
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-1 SJ
CORNER KICKS: CHI 3-5 SJ
SAVES: CHI 1-3 SJ
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Chris Wattam
4th Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Ismail Elfath
Weather: Fair and 88º
Man of the Match: Jackson Yuiell (SJ)
