Zero Goals for Zero Confident Fire

CHICAGO, IL–Where does the Chicago Fire go from here? A franchise trying to find its footing, let alone some points and how about scoring goals?

Charlotte FC got the one goal it needed to walk away with a 1-0 victory over the host Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Wednesday night. It was the third straight win for Charlotte (6-5-2, 20 points) and its third straight victory over the Fire at Soldier Field.

For the Fire (2-7-4, 10 points), they dropped its third straight match and they’ve scored just one goal in its last 6 matches.

“We just need confidence,” Chicago head coach Frank Klopas said. “We’re very low with that. We don’t create the big opportunity in games. We only created one or two chances. We did get in some big spots. We’re just low in confidence right now. In the run of play what did (Charlotte) create. One free kick and it goes.”

Trying to find any answer for this match and the recent ones has left coach Klopas without answers.

“For us right now, it’s not easy.” Klopas said.  “I come up here with the same questions and I’m trying to find the solutions and the answers. That’s the difficult part, you try to change and it’s the same thing. We just have to find our way out of it, and for me and for my staff, we have to find the right group of guys right now.”

Trying to find the right answer or the right combinations seems to be the toughest part for Klopas and the rest of the coaches this recent stretch of the season.

“Up to this point, we haven’t and it’s not easy for me,” Klopas said.  “I love the club and came back, because I thought I could help the club in this way. It’s a difficult one for me. I wouldn’t do this for another team to come back. I had opportunities and I stayed here. It’s extremely difficult in moments like this to find solutions. We just have to keep trying with the confidence is low. Nothing is working for us, and we get in good spots. Nothing seems to be going into the net. We have to put this behind.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte’s Ashley Westwood scored the only goal in the 60th minute off a free kick outside the middle of the box and placed it into the top corner.

The Fire had a few opportunities at times throughout the match and had some urgency in the final couple minutes of extra time in the second half. Chris Mueller sent a corner kick right into the middle of the box where Hugo Cuypers directed a header on goal, that was saved by Charlotte keeper Kristijan Kahlina (5 saves) in the 95th minute.

About a minute later, Carlos Teran sent a volley-kick for the goal that keeper Kahlina made a diving push away save to the right and he secured the clean sheet.  Chicago Fire will be back on the pitch to host the Columbus Crew Saturday night 7:30 p.m. CT back at Soldier Field, while Charlotte FC will host the LA Galaxy also Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. CT.

CLT-Westwood (unassisted) 60

CHI-Teran (yellow, unsporting behavior) 34

CHI-Czichos (yellow, unsporting behavior) 50

CLT-Dejaegere (yellow, delay) 73

CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #34-Brady, #15-Gutman (#22-Pineda 78), #5-Czichos, #4-Teran, #2-Souquet (#19-Koutsias 78), #23-Acosta (#30-Gimenez 67), #31-F, Navarro (#21-Herbers 78), #8-Mueller, #10-Shaqiri (#55-Glasgow 67), #17-Gutierrez, #9-Cuypers.

Subs not used: #18-Richey, #16-Omsberg, #12-Barlow, #24-Dean, #27-Augoni.

CHARLOTTE FC (4-3-3): #1-Kahlina, #14-Byrne, #29-Malanda, #34-Privett, #20-Pedro (#24-Lindsey 87), #30-Urso (#13-Bronico 61), #8-Westwood, #23-Petkovic (#37-Arfield 70), #25-Smalls (#10-Dejaegere 69), #33-Agyemang (#38-Tavares 70), #18-Yardas.

Subs not used:  #22-Bingham, #6-Tuiloma, #32-Diop, #28-Diani

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 14-9 CLT

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 5-2 CLT
FOULS:  CHI 13-14 CLT
OFFSIDES:  CHI 2-0 CLT
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 10-7 CLT
SAVES:  CHI 1-5 CLT

Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt and Gianni Frachinni

Fourth Official: Calin Radosav

Video Assistant: Luis Guardia

Assistant Video Assistant: TJ Sablocki

Weather: Mostly clear and 60

Attendance: 12,806

Man of the Match: Ashley Westwood (CLT)