BRIDGEVIEW, IL–The Fire did show some encouraging signs that they will be better than the past two seasons, but they also showed some of their inexperience and it resulted in a 4-3 defeat to New York City FC. It is the fourth successive loss in the opening match for the Fire. Their last win in an opening match—home or away—was in 2009 (0-5-2 since).
Matt Lampson got the start in goal ahead of Sean Johnson and both David Accam and Matt Polster started despite their knocks. John Goossens is still having visa issues and did not feature.
Thomas McNamara opened the scoring for the visitors in the 10th minute curling a shot from outside the area off the post and in. Lampson could not do anything about that shot.
The Fire equalized nine minutes later as Arturo Alvarez sprung Razvan Cocis behind the NYC defense and slotted the ball past Josh Saunders to make it 1-1.
However, defensive inexperience reared its ugly head twice in a span of seven minutes. A give and go between Andrea Pirlo and Tony Taylor led to a collision between Joao Meira and Michael Harrington and led Taylor to an easy finish. Seven minutes later Mix Diskerud sent Khiry Shelton on his way and he sped past both Brandon Vincent and Lampson to give the visitors a 3-1 lead towards halftime.
In the second half, Gilberto left due to an apparent calf issue, the Fire changed formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-1-2, and looked the more dangerous for it. It paid near-instant dividends when David Accam stripped Frederic Brilliant of a ball and fed Kennedy Igboananike for the finish to make it 3-2.
NYCFC restored their two-goal lead in minute 63 after McNamara found an unmarked Diskerud who struck on the volley beating Lampson near-post. The lead was reduced back to one after Shelton handled a ball in the area and Accam converted the penalty 18 minutes from time.
The Fire had many chances to get a late equalizer, but NYCFC held on for the three points.
Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic sees the inability to convert chances as something they have to improve.
“I think that’s something we have to grow,” said Paunovic. “For me, the good news is that we are creating so much chances, so much opportunities, but still we have to score those goals. That’s very important, especially for games like today. Defensively we did not have the performance, not because somebody was bad, for me it was a was a great team and they really played really good, great players like I said before.
“We have to be more efficient. We’ll know more about that. Like I said, we scored three and when I say we need to be more efficient it means that we had a lot of opportunities. Again, I would like to congratulate our players and our opponent, who were great today and everyone who participated today.
“I would say defensively, I’m not saying defense, or four guys or three or four or five guys at the back, I’m talking about the whole team defensively, we have to work together and the teamwork is what it takes to defend well. So I think the guys at the back in the first half they had issues especially with Villa and other guys but I think they adapted, they adjusted the second half much better. We conceded one goal but it’s the first game and we will improve.”
Despite missing a lot of the preseason, David Accam felt great with his performance and that of the team.
“Of course I missed a lot of preseason games,” said Accam, “but I had a good, solid week of training, and I felt I was good to play. It showed today; even though my finishing wasn’t good, at least I gave my best for the team. I’m encouraged for what I have seen today.
“On the attacking half, most of the guys did really well, we created a lot of chances. In another game, we would have finished with four or five goals. For me, I’m excited on what this team can do.”
It will be interesting to see what this team can do on Friday away to Orlando City SC. Kickoff is at 6pm CT on UniMas.
SCORING SUMMARY:
NYC-Thomas McNamara (Shelton) 10
CHI-Razvan Cocis (Alvarez) 19
NYC-Tony Taylor (unassisted) 29
NYC-Khiry Shelton (Diskerud) 36
CHI-Kennedy Igboananike (Accam) 49
NYC-Mix Diskerud (McNamara) 63
CHI-David Accam (penalty kick) 72
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NYC-Frederic Brilliant (caution, tactical foul) 14
CHI-Joao Meira (caution, tactical foul) 32
NYC-Tony Taylor (caution, free kick encroachment) 59
CHI-Matt Polster (caution, reckless foul) 62
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #28-Matt Lampson; #5-Michael Harrington (#13-Rodrigo Ramos 66), #4-Johan Kappelhof, #66-Joao Meira, #3-Brandon Vincent; #2-Matt Polster, #30-Razvan Cocis (#15-Joey Calistri 81); #77-Kennedy Igboananike, #12-Arturo Alvarez, #11-David Accam; #9-Gilberto (#16-Jonathan Campbell 46)
Subs not used: #25-Sean Johnson, #26-Michael Stephens, #21-Nick LaBrocca, #17-Collin Fernandez
NEW YORK CITY FC (4-3-3): #12-Josh Saunders; #3-Ethan White, #13-Frederic Brilliant, #2-Jason Hernandez, #22-Ronald Matarrita; #10-Mix Diskerud, #21-Andrea Pirlo, #15-Thomas McNamara; #19-Khiry Shelton (#6-Federico Bravo 89), #7-David Villa, #99-Tony Taylor
Subs not used: #25-Eirik Johansen, #20-Medhi Ballouchy, #6-Federico Bravo, #5-Mikey Lopez, #30-Diego Martinez, #14-Patrick Mullins, #88-Kwadwo Poku
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 17-20 NYC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 9-10 NYC
FOULS: CHI 12-9 NYC
OFFSIDES: CHI 7-1 NYC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 12-1 NYC
SAVES: CHI 6-6 NYC
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Referee’s Assistants: Corey Parker, Peter Manikowski
Fourth Official: Hilario Grajeda
Weather: Partly Sunny and 46º
Attendance: 17,768
Man of the Match: Khiry Shelton (NYC)
