BRIDGEVIEW, IL—If “Wonderwall” is becoming the song for Minnesota United, the Chicago Fire’s song might as well be the “It’s The Same Old Song” (only there is no different meaning since you’ve been gone).
The Fire once again get at least 20 shots, probably a high expected goal rate, but not nearly enough in terms of actual goals and the result is either one or zero points. It was zero on Saturday night as the Fire fell to bottom-side FC Cincinnati, 2-1.
Cincinnati wasted no time getting on the board. Just 45 seconds in, Leonardo Bertone’s cross was not dealt with well by the Fire defense. An unfortunate deflection by Fabian Herbers went right to Allan Cruz for an easy finish.
The Fire did get a break in the 24th minute when VAR ruled that Kendall Waston’s foul on CJ Sapong was on the line if not inside the box and referee Fotis Bazakos awarded a penalty. However, Nico Gaitan would shoot it off the post and the Fire were still behind.
Shortly thereafter, play stopped as an isolated thunderstorm made its way through the area delaying play for 59 minutes. When play resumed, Cruz nearly doubled the lead in the 38th minute for the visitors, but Francisco Calvo provided the crucial block.
The Fire would get another penalty just before halftime after Emmanuel Ledesma was guilty of a handball in the box. Gaitan again took the penalty, but this time, it was saved by Spencer Richey only for Gaitan to put in the rebound.
However, the Fire were unable to make use of their many chances in the second half. FC Cincinnati just needed one in the second half and it came as Kekuta Manneh fed Fanendo Adi who beat Kenneth Kronholm seven minutes from time for his first goal of the season.
Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic said his team lacked ‘courage’ against FC Cincinnati and that the locker room was silent after match. He is full aware that he is on the hot seat, but insists that he and his team can right the ship.
“Everyday I’m concerned about my job security,” said Paunovic. “I think it’s a profession where you always have to be ready for any kind of setbacks. You have to know that this is a top flight job and everyone is fighting for it. I’m not concerned I would say, I’m aware of what we are and how this profession is. I’m absolutely confident that we are going to lift this up. We are going to fix it. I believe in our guys. Tomorrow, I’ll be here working with them, giving them support and preparing them for the next match.
“I’m not giving up and nobody is going to give up in that locker room while I’m here. We are going to work with the guys, prepare them. We have to show the respect for what we are doing, the respect for everyone that this club matters. We have to show self pride.”
Whether Veljko Paunoivc acutally will get that chance remains to be seen after what can be described as one of the lowest points this season for the Fire. They next play on Wednesday against a Columbus Crew side who is in worse form at 7pm CT. FC Cincinnati host DC United on Thursday.
Right now, it would be too easy to suggest that Murphy’s Law is in full effect for the Chicago Fire. It’s more a combination of that, The Peter Principle, and the Stone of Sisyphus. Someone need to get that stone up the hill, rise above the levels of incompetence at the club, and to ensure that not just anything that could go wrong does.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CIN-Allan Cruz (Bertone) 1
CHI-Nico Gaitan (unassisted) 45+4
CIN-Fanendo Adi (Manneh) 83
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CIN-Spencer Richey (caution, time wasting) 48
CIN-Emmanuel Ledesma (caution, dangerous play) 52
CIN-Leonardo Bertone (caution, time wasting) 59
CHI-Jorge Corrales (caution, reckless tackle) 73
CHI-Djordje Mihailovic (caution, reckless tackle) 78
CHICAGO FIRE (4-1-4-1): #27-Kenneth Kronholm; #13-Brandy Bronico, #4-Johan Kappelhof, #5-Francisco Calvo, #25-Jorge Corrales; #6-Dax McCarty; #10-Aleksandar Katai (#12-Amando Moreno 90+1), #21-Fabian Herbers (#14-Djordje Mihailovic 64), #20-Nico Gaitan, #11-Przemyslaw Frankowski (#23-Nemanja Nikolic 75); #9-CJ Sapong
Subs not used: #45-Richard Sanchez, #2-Marcelo, #15-Grant Lillard, #17-Diego Campos
FC CINCINNATI (4-2-3-1): #18-Spencer Richey; #32-Justin Hoyte, #92-Alvas Powell, #2-Kendall Waston, #17-Mathieu Deplagne; #15-Allan Cruz (#14-Nick Hagglund 90+3), #6-Leonardo Bertone; #45-Emmanuel Ledesma, #33-Caleb Stanko, #31-Kekuta Manneh (#8-Victor Ulloa 84); #81-Rashawn Dally (#9-Fanendo Adi 67)
Subs not used: #22-Przemyslaw Tyton, #21-Logan Gdula, #19-Corben Bone, #26-Thomas McCabe
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 20-6 CIN
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 7-3 CIN
FOULS: CHI 16-14 CIN
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-1 CIN
CORNER KICKS: CHI 13-3 CIN
SAVES: CHI 1-6 CIN
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: CJ Morgante, TJ Zablocki
Fourth Official: Farhad Dadkho
VAR: Younes Marrakchiz
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 91º
Attendance: 13,127
Man of the Match: Spencer Richey (CIN)
Editor’s Note: Our gallery below is courtesy of Amanda Cortese. You can check out all of her photos from the 2019 season on SmugMug.
Chicago Fire
