DC Loss Highlight Fire’s Current Issues

Photo: Amanda Cortese

Chicago Fire 1-2 DC United

BRIDGEVIEW, IL—Not putting in a full 90 minutes has been a pain point for a while now for Chicago Fire FC. Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium was no exception as an awful first half overrode a decent second half as the Fire fell, 2-1, to DC United. For the Fire, they are now winless in their last six competitive matches and are now joint bottom with Nashville SC in the Eastern Conference with six matches to play. DC, who have won four of their last five league matches, go into the playoff places with the win. 

DC struck twice in a three-minute span in the first half. In the 26th minute, Carlos Teran missed a header to intercept a cross from Mateusz Klich and Christian Benteke’s shot deflected off Wyatt Omsberg and past Chris Brady for Benteke’s 18th goal of the season which now is the lead for the Golden Boot in MLS.

Three minutes later, Klich found Gabriel Pirani making a run. Two defenders failed to close down Pirani and the latter beat Brady far post. The Fire had just one shot in the first half and that was before halftime when Kelyn Acosta shot one off the goal post. 

The Fire started off much brighter in the second half and were rewarded nine minutes in as Andrew Gutman scored off a volley to pull one back for the hosts. 

However, the Fire would not get close again for an equalizer, and DC enhanced their playoff chances with three points on the road while the Fire’s are fading away with another home loss. 

Fire head coach Frank Klopas felt his team was not focused for the whole 90 minutes, nor showed enough of a killer instinct when they got within 25 yards of goal.

“We get in good spots, and then our ability in the final 25 yards from goal, whether it’s just making a play, the quality of the crosses coming in, connecting, we get in really good spots and we need to be better and sharper in the final third, in those areas. And we haven’t been, and that’s the thing and then we’ve been giving up soft goals,” said Klopas.

“I think the most important thing is to, you know, the mentality that we showed in the second half, we need to have over 90 minutes. We can talk about playoffs, that’s always there because we’re not out of it until we are. But I think it starts that we need to look at one game at a time now. I’ve talked about every game being a final, but we need to be more complete games, 90 minutes in every game, and leave everything on the field. At least the fans, our fans appreciate the effort, the attitude, the mentality, the commitment that you put forth in the game. We had that today in the second half, and then with the ball, we got to be a little bit better. We got in good spots, but we didn’t take advantage of them.”

Part of the reason of why the Fire have trouble in the attacking third of the pitch is players not being on the same page. 

I’m trying to get into a position where when guys do receive the ball with the head up that I’m running in behind trying to make the defender make a decision but at the same time, I am trying to free up space to get [Brian Gutierrez] on the ball,” said Fire defender Andrew Gutman. “If we can get him on the ball and get him creating for us, that’s probably better than having me on the ball. I think sometimes we’re just on different pages, and Ithink that’s something that we really need to work on, just better understanding of where everyone is, what everyone wants to do. I know it’s a little late in the season to be saying that, but that’s kind of the reality of where we’re at.”

The Fire will return to their primary home of Soldier Field to take on New York Red Bulls next Saturday at 7:30pm (Apple TV). 

For more of Amanda Cortese’s photos from Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium, please click on the link to her gallery.

SCORING SUMMARY:
DC-Christian Benteke (Klich, Santos) 26
DC-Gabriel Pirani (Klich) 29
CHI-Andrew Gutman (unassisted) 54

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Andrew Gutman (caution, tactical foul) 45+1
DC-Dominque Badji (caution, delaying a restart) 73
DC-Mateusz Klich (caution, time wasting) 86

CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2):  #34-Chris Brady; #15-Andrew Gutman (#21-Fabian Herbers 74), #16-Wyatt Omsberg, #4-Carlos Teran, #2-Arnaud Souquet (#24-Jonathan Dean 86); #17-Brian Gutierrez, #30-Gaston Gimenez, #23-Kelyn Acosta (#36-Andre Reynolds 74), #27-Allan Arigoni (#12-Tom Barlow 46); #7-Maren Haile-Selassie, #9-Hugo Cuypers

Subs not used:  #18-Spencer Richey, #31-Federico Navarro, #37-Javier Casas, #8-Chris Mueller, #14-Tobias Salquist

DC UNITED (4-5-1):  #24-Alex Bono; #7-Pedro Santos, #97-Chris McVey, #3-Lucas Bartlett, #16-Garrison Tubbs (#6-Russell Canouse 83); #14-Martin Rodriguez, #43-Mateusz Klich, #10-Gabriel Pirani (#21-Ted Ku-Dipietro 57), #8-Jared Stroud (#17-Jacob Murrell 68), #11-Cristian Dajome; #20-Christian Benteke (#23-Dominque Badji 68)

Subs not used:  #56-Luis Zamudio, #18-Jeremy Gray, #30-Hayden Sargis

EXPECTED GOALS:  CHI 0.58-0.88 DC
TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 6-10 DC
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 2-3 DC
FOULS:  CHI 10-12 DC
OFFSIDES:  CHI 0-0 DC
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 3-4 DC
SAVES:  CHI 1-1 DC

Referee:  Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees:  Micheal Barwegen, Jeffrey Swartzel
4th Official:  Alexis Da Silva
VAR:  Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR:  Fabio Tovar
Attendance:  16,246
Weather:  Clear and 63º
Man of the Match:  Mateusz Klich (DC)