Two Fire Errors, Two TFC Goals Equals Fourth Straight Loss

Chicago Fire 1-2 Toronto FC

BRIDGEVIEW, IL–There are moments in games you can point to where teams won games. In this game, you can point to two moments where the Fire lost this one. Once again, a team with a horrendous record away from home came to Toyota Park and got all three points.

Ten days ago, it was Philadelphia. On Saturday, it was Toronto FC with the 2-1 victory for just their second away win in league play, snapping a six-match winless streak. The Fire’s losing streak in league play is now at four.

After a goalless first half, Toronto got on the board two minutes into the second half after a Diego Campos turnover became a Michael Bradley long ball to Sebastian Giovinco who had all the space and time in the world to beat Richard Sanchez far post.

The Fire did equalize in the 62nd minute after a well-planned free kick that saw Aleksandar Katai send the ball to recent acquisition Raheem Edwards who flicked a header to Nemanja Nikolic who headed in his tenth goal of the year. He is the first Fire player in 14 years to score at least 10 goals in back-to-back seasons (Damani Ralph).

Three minutes later, Marco Delgaldo sends a thru-ball to Jonathan Osorio. Sanchez came out to meet him, but failed to get the ball and giving Osorio a tap-in for the eventual winner.

“Defensively we are what we are and we are not good defensively,” said Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic. “We’re trying to work and improve, but this has to be solved.

“If we fix the defense by then, just a little bit, we can have chances,” Paunović said. “If not, we are going to just concede like always and the guys will fight back and score the goal. But this is just too much. We have to do a better job.”

Once again, the fans became a story during the match. Saturday was the first time since the controversy with Sector Latino and Section 101 in which organized activities were carried out by the supporters groups. Some fans unfurled banners calling for the removal of Owner and Chairman Andrew Hauptman, President and General Manager Nelson Rodriguez, and the reinstatement of Sector Latino and other season ticket holders who were in Section 101. In the last ten minutes, a collection of supporters went into Section 101 as a form of protest and marched out together 20 minutes after the final whistle.

When asked in Spanish about the conflict between the club and the supporters groups, Paunovic had this to say as translated here.

“First of all, what I’d like to say is we’re all here to help and support our team. I’m not going to go into detail but what I do think is important is unity between the whole club and of course, we have that here. But also from the outside. To all the fans that support us, I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I love the people that are behind my back in the stands that are always supporting, standing and even give tactical advice that are spot on and that’s very good. But we need everyone to be united and be with us. We’re all here with the same objective which is to see our team win, improve and always give it their all. I think that’s the most important thing.”

Rodriguez is due to have his second media roundtable of the season on Wednesday.

Meanwhile the Fire and Toronto will play again next Satruday at BMO Field. Kickoff is at 6pm CT.

SCORING SUMMARY:

TOR-Sebastian Giovinco (Bradley) 47

CHI-Nemanja Nikolic (Edwards, Katai) 62

TOR-Jonathan Osorio (Delgado) 65

BOOKING SUMMARY:

TOR-Chris Mavinga (caution, reckless foul) 41

CHI-Jorge Corrales (caution, tactical foul) 45+2

TOR-Justin Morrow (caution, tactical foul) 61

CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #45-Richard Sanchez; #5-Kevin Ellis (#19-Mo Adams 73), #4-Johan Kappelhof, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #25-Jorge Corrales (#3-Brandon Vincent 45+2); #31-Bastian Scheweinsteiger, #13-Brandt Bronico; #10-Aleksandar Katai, #17-Diego Campos (#9-Luis Solignac 52), #7-Raheem Edwards; #23-Nemanja Nikolic

Subs not used: #30-Stefan Cleveland, #27-Rafael Ramos, #12-Tony Tchani, #21-Alan Gordon

TORONTO FC (4-4-2): #25-Alex Bono; #9-Gregory van der Wiel, #15-Eriq Zavaleta, #5-Ashtone Morgan, #2-Justin Morrow; #18-Marco Delgado, #23-Chris Mavinga (#6-Nick Hagglund 66), #4-Michael Bradley, #21-Jonathan Osorio; #17-Jozy Altidore (#7-Victor Vazquez 79), #10-Sebastian Giovinco

Subs not used: #1-Clint Irwin, #12-Jason Hernandez, #14-Jay Chapman, #20-Ayo Akinola, #54-Ryan Telfer

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 11-10 TOR

SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 2-6 TOR

FOULS: CHI 5-9 TOR

OFFSIDES: CHI 3-0 TOR

CORNER KICKS: CHI 6-7 TOR

SAVES: CHI 4-1 TOR

Referee: Sorin Stoica

Referee’s Assistants: Jason White, Peter Balciunas

4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez

Video Assistant Referee: Armando Villarreal

Attendance: 15,177