Fire hold on to defeat Charlotte FC

Chicago Fire 3-2 Charlotte FC

CHICAGO, IL—Three years ago, Charlotte FC rallied from two goals down to defeat the Fire, 3-2, eliminating them from playoff contention. The Crown as they are nicknamed nearly did the same thing Saturday night at Soldier Field, but this time, the Fire held on to a 3-2 win for only their second home win of the year (2-3-4). 

The Fire did their damage in a 12-minute span in the first half. It started with Phillip Zinckernagel picking up a turnover at midfield and then running towards goal in a solo effort passing Wilfried Zaha and Andrew Privett before beating Kristijan Kahlina near post to give the Fire the lead. Two minutes later, Zinckernagel turned provider as he set up Brian Gutierrez at the edge of the area. Gutierrez’s shot deflected off Privett and into the net to double the Fire’s advantage. 

In the 33rd minute, Adilson Malanda’s pass back to the keeper would be intercepted by Hugo Cuypers who one-timed the shot into the net. It looked for a while that the Fire would cruise to their first home win ever against Charlotte after three losses. 

However, Charlotte was not about to give up and indeed, came back. In the 56th minute, Zaha found Pep Biel making a run into the box and Biel would pull one back for the Crown. Three minutes later, Biel would then send the ball to Idan Toklomati to pull Charlotte to within one. 

The Fire would regain their footing after that, unlike three years ago, and hold on and move into the playoff places ahead of Charlotte and NYCFC on goal difference after the latter losing at Montreal.

For Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter, it was important for his team to dig in to get a win. 

“We talked about some of the wins we’ve had and needing to have a win where you need to dig,” said Berhalter. “And we talked with the group, and I think that was important. I mean, we don’t want to give up two goals, but I think the positive side of that is the guys have to come together.

They had to work together and grind it out in the end, which I think we did. There were, I don’t think, any chances towards the end of the game; there was nothing that scary. So overall, happy with the performance and happy with the way the guys competed.”

The Fire will now look to apply that against one of the top teams in the league at FC Cincinnati next Saturday. Kickoff is at 6:30pm CT on Apple TV. 

Photos by Len Cederholm

SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Phillip Zinckernagel (unassisted) 23
CHI-Brian Gutierrez (Zinckernagel) 25
CHI-Hugo Cuypers (unassisted) 33
CLT-Pep Biel (Zaha) 56
CLT-Idan Toklomati (Biel) 59

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Maren Haile-Selassie (caution, tactical foul) 50
CLT-Wilfried Zaha (caution, dissent) 60
CHI-Jonathan Dean (caution, reckless foul) 77
CLT-Pep Biel (caution, tactical foul) 79
CHI-Andrew Gutman (caution, tactical foul) 80
CHI-Sam Rogers (caution, reckless tackle) 82
CHI-Sergio Oregel (caution, tactical foul) 88

CHICAGO FIRE (4-3-3):  #25-Jeff Gal; #15-Andrew Gutman, #3-Jack Elliott, #5-Sam Rogers (#34-Omar Gonzalez 89), #24-Jonathan Dean; #35-Sergio Oregel (#23-Kellyn Acosta 89), #22-Mauricio Pineda (#42-Dje D’Avilla 46), #17-Brian Gutierrez; #19-Jonathan Bamba (#7-Maren Haile-Selassie 46), #9-Hugo Cuypers (#12-Tom Barlow 90+3), #11-Phillip Zinckernagel

Subs not used:  #31-Brian Dowd, #26-Omari Glasgow, #2-Leonardo Barroso, #47-Sam Williams

CHARLOTTE FC (4-3-3):  #1-Kristijan Kahlina; #21-Souleyman Doumbia (#35-Nick Scardina 18), #4-Andrew Privett, #29-Adilson Malanda, #2-Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, #13-Brandt Bronico (#18-Kerwin Vargas 87), #8-Ashley Westwood, #16-Pep Biel; #10-Wilfried Zaha, #17-Idan Toklomati (#25-Tygre Smalls 89), #11-Liel Abada (#28-Djibril Diani 46)

Subs not used:  #22-David Bingham, #19-Eryk Williamson, #6-Bill Tuiloma, #36-Brandon Cambridge, #23-Nicola Petkovic

EXPECTED GOALS:  CHI 1.3-0.9 CLT
TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 12-8 CLT
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 5-2 CLT
FOULS:  CHI 13-10 CLT
OFFSIDES:  CHI 1-1 CLT
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 3-1 CLT
SAVES:  CHI 0-2 CLT

Referee:  Sergii Boyiko
Referee’s Assistants:  Adam Wienckowski, Nick Balcer
Fourth Official:  John Matto
VAR:  Younes Marrakchi
AVAR:  Robert Schaap
Weather:  Clear and 73º
Attendance:  17,839
Man of the Match:  Phillip Zinckernagel (CHI)

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