Evander hat trick beats Cuypers brace

Chicago Fire 2-3 FC Cincinnati

CHICAGO, IL–Chicago Fire FC and FC Cincinnati had an entertaining match scoring goals with four of them in the first half.

Cincinnati lost a player in the second half to a red card and had to play a man down. Still, that didn’t stop the visiting team from picking up three points.

Evander scored the winning goal on a penalty kick in the 96th minute that gave FC Cincinnati a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire FC Saturday night at Soldier Field. It was called after Dje D’Avilla had won the ball in the box, but his foot carried through and made contact with Pavel Bucha on his foot in the 94th minute.

“Looking back, I think it’s a penalty,’ Chicago FC coach Gregg Berhalter said. :”There’s no question D’Avilla got the ball. But in the midst of getting the ball, he follows through and cleans the opponent out, and it’s unfortunate. I think D’Avilla had more time than he thought. He takes a heavy touch, which got out of control, and decided to make that play.”

The Fire thought they had a chance to break the 2-2 tie in the 91st minute. Phillip Zinckernagel was tackled in the penalty area near the end line by Ayoub Lajhar. Cuypers took the penalty kick. Which was saved by the FC Cincinnati keeper Roman Calentano diving push away save to the right. Calentano made eight saves in the match.

In the 56th minute, FC Cincinnati played with 10 men after Kyle Smith was assessed a red card for a dangerous play.

The Fire had created plenty of chances for the third goal and kept attacking in the final third but couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net. They also had a 32 to 11 advantage in shots.

Chicago Fire sits in fourth place in the East (5-3-2, 17 points). FC Cincinnati is a spot behind (4-4-3, 15 points).

Cuypers scored the opening goal for the Fire off a cross from Philip Zinckernagel from the right side of the penalty area for a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.

FC Cincinnati found the equalizer in the 24th minute. Evander connected in front of the goal after the Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi tried to clear the ball out of the back.

Fire pulled back ahead 2-1 a few minutes later with a familiar combination. Cuypers finished a shot off a cross pass from Zinckernagel in the 28th minute. Cuypers also has now scored ten goals in eight matches.

Evander leveled the score at 2-2 in the 31st minute. He connected a shot from outside the box off an assist from Kenji Mboma Dem.

“I’m really happy with the effort from the effort from the guys, especially coming off short rest,” Berhalter said. “I think we played a great game. I know I like the sound like a fool saying that. But that’s what I’m seeing. Congrats to Cincinnati.”

Chicago Fire will next host the New York Red Bulls at 1:30 p.m. CDT back at Soldier Field. FC Cincinnati travels to Charlotte FC for a 6:30 p.m. EDT match. Both matches are on Apple TV.

Photos by Leslie Smith

SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI – Cuypers (Zinckernagel) 16′
CIN – Evander (unassisted) 24′
CHI – Cuypers (Zinckernagel) 28′
CIN – Evander (Mboma Dem) 31′
CIN – Evander (pk) 96

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CIN – Smith (red, dangerous high kick) 56′
CIN – Denky (yellow, unsportsmanlike behavior) 66
CIN – Lajhar (yellow, hard tackle) 90′
CHI – D’Avilla (yellow, hard tackle) 94′
CIN – Echenique (yellow, delay of game) 101′

CHICAGO FIRE FC: #1-Brady, #3-Elliott, #4-Mbokazi, #15-Gutman, #24-Dean (#20-Shokalook 97), #17-Lod (#19-Bamba) 59, #42-D’Avilla, #8-Saletros, #7-Halle-Selassie, #9-Cuypers, #11-Zinckernagel.

Subs not used: #44-Cohen, #12-Dithejane, #14-Rodojevic, #16-Waterman, #22-Pinada, #27-Borso, #35-Oregel.

FC CINCINNATI: #19-Calentano, #24-Smith, #11-Gidi, #27-Anunga (#4-Hagglund 46), #22-Valenzuela (#21-Mazga 66), #10-Evander, #20-Bucha, #29-Ramirez (#55-Lajher 87), #17-Mboma Dam (#16-Barlow 77), #9-Denkey (#99-Jabari 77)

Subs not used: #13-Louro, #3-Flores, #37-Jimenez, #66-Echenique

EXPECTED GOALS:  CHI 3.5-1.9 CIN
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 32-11 CIN
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 10-4 CIN
FOULS: CHI 12-5 CIN
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-0 CIN
CORNER KICKS: CHI 10-1 CIN
SAVES: CHI 1-8 CIN

Referee: Joel Dickerson
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard and Logan Brown
Fourth Official: Ricardo Montaro
Video Assistant: Jose Carlos Rivero
Weather: Mostly clear 51º
Attendance: 18,630

Follow us on bluesky

Follow us on Twitter