Two goals and one man up, Fire still squander win
by Dan Gaichas, Windy City Soccer
Despite being up two goals and a man for more than an hour, the Chicago Fire squandered the two goal lead and finished in a 2-2 draw for their first draw of the season (3-5-1). NYCFC’s winless does extend to nine matches, but will be more grateful for the point.
The Fire got on the board first as Shaun Maloney’s free kick was headed in by Razvan Cocis making his first start of the season in the 14th minute. Things got better in the 26th minute as David Accam stripped a defender of the ball and was in on goal before being taken down by RJ Allen. Referee Ted Unkel pointed to the penalty spot and showed Allen a red card. Jeff Larentowicz would convert the spot kick.
The Fire were dominant for 44 of the first 45 minutes. But out of nowhere, NYCFC would pull one back in first half stoppage time. Medhi Ballouchy pounced on a rebound after David Villa’s shot was initially saved by Sean Johnson.
Then in the second half, NYCFC was unbelievably more attack-minded than the Fire. There were chances for both David Accam and substitute Jason Johnson, but neither were able to find net to put the game away. Instead, it would be two points lost as David Villa’s thru-ball to substitute Khiry Shelton gave the hosts a point in the first minute of second half stoppage time.
The Fire travel next Friday to Columbus to take on the Crew at 7pm CT on Univision Deportes.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Razvan Cocis (Maloney) 14′
CHI-Jeff Larentowicz (penalty kick) 27′
NYC-Medhi Ballouchy (unassisted) 45+1′
NYC-Khiry Shelton (Villa) 90+1′
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NYC-RJ Allen (sent off, denying a goal scoring opportunity) 26′
NYC-David Villa (caution, dissent) 45+3′
NYC-Shay Facey (caution, reckless foul) 52′
CHI-Jeff Larentowicz (caution, delaying a restart) 55′
CHI-Joevin Jones (caution, tactical foul) 61′
CHI-Shaun Maloney (caution, tactical foul) 63′
NYC-Andrew Jacobson (caution, dissent) 71′
NEW YORK CITY FC (4-3-3): #12-Josh Saunders; #5-Jeb Brovsky (C) (#15-Thomas McNamara 79′), #21-Jason Hernandez, #17-Chris Wingert, #27-RJ Allen; #22-Pablo Alvarez (#24-Shay Facey 30′), #4-Andrew Jacobson, #10-Mix Diskerud, #20-Medhi Ballouchy; , #14-Patrick Mullins (#19-Khiry Shelton 60′), #7-David Villa
Subs not used: #18-Ryan Meara, #88-Kwadwo Poku, #26-Sebastian Velasquez, #32-Adam Nemec
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-1-1): #25-Sean Johnson; #5-Lovel Palmer, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #4-Adailton, #3-Joevin Jones; #11-David Accam (#7-Jason Johnson 88′), #2-Matt Polster, #30-Razvan Cocis, #19-Harry Shipp (#26-Michael Stephens 71′); #10-Shaun Maloney, #77-Kennedy Igboananike (#24-Quincy Amarikwa 67′)
Subs not used: #18-Jon Busch, #6-Eric Gehrig, #21-Chris Ritter, #23-Guly do Prado
TOTAL SHOTS: NYC 11-23 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: NYC 5-9 CHI
FOULS: NYC 11-14 CHI
OFFSIDES: NYC 2-4 CHI
CORNER KICKS: NYC 3-7 CHI
SAVES: NYC 7-3 CHI
Referee: Ted Unkel
Referee’s Assistants: Jeff Muschik, Brian Dunn
Fourth Official: Robert Sibiga
Attendance: 23,315
Man of the Match: David Villa (NYC)
