Fire Subs Lift Team to First Win in Two Months

Chicago Fire 2-1 New York Red Bulls

CHICAGO, IL—For the first time in nearly two months, Chicago Fire FC emerged victorious as they defeated New York Red Bulls, 2-1, at Soldier Field. It was their first home win since July 3rd and ended a six-match winless streak in all competitions. The Fire are now 13th in the Eastern Conference, four points adrift of the ninth and final playoff spot currently owned by DC United with four matches to play. Everyone else below the playoff line all have matches in hand on the Fire. 

The first half was a rather dull affair with each team getting chances here and there. However, the Fire got the breakthrough in the 31st minute as an errant header by Noah Eile allowed Hugo Cuypers in on goal. His shot was saved by Carlos Coronel, but the rebound was snapped up by Tom Barlow who had a tap in for his first goal of the season at the expense of his former team. 

“Yeah, it feels great,” said Barlow. :It’s been a long year, and to finally see it hit the back of the net, obviously, as a forward, there’s nothing better in the world. So, it felt good to get one tonight. And then, more importantly

though, the three points.”

Red Bulls inserted Dante Vanzeir and Dennis Gjengaar as halftime substitutes. Those subs would make an immediate impact as Vanzeir found a criminally unmarked Gjengaar for the equalizer just 90 seconds into the second half.

In the 72nd minute, Kellyn Acosta and Georgios Koutsias came on as subs. They would make an impact three minutes later as Acosta sent a diagonal into the box that was headed in by Koutsias for what turned out to the be the match winner. Koutsias had scored for the Greece U-21 team vs. Faroe Islands in midweek. 

“Yeah, it’s very important for me that both my teams have won, and I scored for both of them,” said Koutsias. “I’m really happy for both results. We need to [keep]pushing. We need to have more games like that. And yeah, hopefully we continue like this, work hard and get some more games like that.”

The goal was Koutsias’s fourth in five matches in all competitions.

Brian Gutierrez was a scratch due to groin problems while Rafael Czichos was a late scratch after picking up an injury in warmups. 

The Fire will have a short turnaround as they travel Wednesday to play Nashville SC. Kickoff is at 7:30pm and will be on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass. 

For more of Leslie Smith’s photos from the night at Soldier Field, please click on the link to her gallery.

SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Tom Barlow (unassisted) 31
RBNY-Dennis Gjengaar (Vanzeir) 47
CHI-Georgios Koutsias (Acosta) 75

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Chris Mueller (caution, reckless tackle) 17
CHI-Ariel Lassiter (caution, tactical foul) 57
CHI-Maren Haile-Selassie (caution, time wasting) 87
RBNY-Dante Vanzeir (caution, unsporting behavior) 90+7

CHICAGO FIRE (3-5-2):  #34-Chris Brady; #16-Wyatt Omsberg, #4-Carlos Teran (#14-Tobias Salquist 52), #2-Arnaud Souquet; #11-Ariel Lassiter (#24-Jonathan Dean 80), #30-Gaston Gimenez, #8-Chris Mueller (#23-Kellyn Acosta 72), #21-Fabian Herbers (#31-Federico Navarro 80), #7-Maren Haile-Selassie; #9-Hugo Cuypers, #12-Tom Barlow (#19-Georgios Koutsias 72)

Subs not used:  #18-Spencer Richey, #27-Allan Arigoni, #36-Justin Reynolds

NEW YORK RED BULLS (4-4-2):  #1-Carlos Coronel; #47-John Tolkin, #3-Noah Eile, #4-Andres Reyes (#7-Cory Burke 88), #12-Dylan Nealis; #5-Peter Stroud (#2-Dennis Gjengaar 46), #75-Daniel Edelman (#16-Julian Hall 81), #20-Felipe Carballo, #17-Cameron Harper (#22-Serge Ngome Jr. 73); #11-Elias Manoel (#13-Dante Vanzeir 46), #9-Lewis Morgan

Subs not used:  #18-Ryan Meara, #23-Aidan O’Connor, #48-Ronald Donkor

EXPECTED GOALS:  CHI 2.68-2.26 RBNY
TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 12-15 RBNY
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 5-2 RBNY
FOULS:  CHI 12-10 RBNY
OFFSIDES:  CHI 2-3 RBNY
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 3-7 RBNY
SAVES:  CHI 1-3 RBNY

Referee:  Mark Allatin
Assistant Referees:  Jeremy Kieso, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official:  Gerard Flores
VAR:  Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR:  Brian Marshall
Weather:  Mostly Clear and 78º
Attendance:  22,118
Man of the Match:  Gerogios Koutsias (CHI)