Photo: Leslei Smith
Chicago Fire FC 2-1 New York City FC
CHICAGO, IL—It was “Anime Day” at Soldier Field. Recently, Maren Haile-Selassie has become somewhat of a super saiyan for the Fire and was rewarded with a contract extension on Thursday thru 2028-29. Saturday was no exception as he got a goal and an assist despite the Fire being down to ten men for over a half leading the Fire to an unlikely 2-1 win over New York City FC. At the time of this writing, the Fire move to second in the East after their third successive win and fourth all-time against NYCFC (all at home).
The match started inauspiciously for the Fire. Nineteen minutes in, a cross from Agustin Ojeda went behind several players., but was picked up by Hannes Wolf. Wolf then curled a shot past Chris Brady to give the Pigeons the lead.
It got worst for the Fire two minutes before halftime as Dje D’Avilla picked up a second yellow card reducing the Fire to ten. If the first half was quite flat for the Fire, the second half was quite the opposite.
The Fire were the far more aggressive side despite their reduced numbers and were justly rewarded in the 55th minute, Haile-Selassie’s cross into the box was headed in by Anton Saletros for his first goal of the season. It was Haile-Selassie’s tenth assist on the season.
His tenth goal of the year came in the 87th minute. Matt Freese tried to play the ball out from the back, but his pass was easily intercepted by Haile-Selassie who would put it in far post. Haile-Selassie becomes the Fire’s second ever player to score ten goals and register ten assists in a single season after Philip Zinckernagel accomplished the feat last season.
“I’m pleased, obviously. It means that I’m helping the team,” said Haile-Selassie. “Today, we did a great job. Said it before as well, we even played better down the man than 11 v 11. So, we just have to continue like that, and again, I’m happy if I can help the team.”
For Fire coach Gregg Berhalter, he praised his team’s resilience after a porous first half.
“The character that the group showed in very difficult circumstances, going down a goal, down a man, and in the second half, the guys had to dig in,” said Berhalter. “The crowd was behind us, we created energy, we created momentum, and got back into the game, and eventually won the game. Says a lot about the players, their determination, their togetherness, and a great win for the team overall.”
The Fire are right back at it on Wednesday at home against Philadelphia Union. Kickoff is at 7:30pm CT on Apple TV.
SCORING SUMMARY:
NYC-Hannes Wolf (Ojeda, Martinez) 19
CHI-Anton Saletros (Haile-Selassie, Lewandowski) 55
CHI-Maren Haile-Selassie (unassisted) 87
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Dje D’Avilla (caution, tactical foul) 20
CHI-Dje D’Avilla (sent off, second bookable offense) 43
CHI-Mbekezeli Mbokazi (caution, tactical foul) 63
CHI-Mauricio Pineda (caution, tactical foul) 90+4
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2): #1-Chris Brady; #2-Leonardo Barroso (#32-Noah Allen 71), #4-Mbekizeli Mbokazi, #3-Jack Elliott, #24-Jonathan Dean; #11-Phillip Zinckernagel (#12-Puso Dithejane 71), #6-Anton Saletros, #42-Dje D’Avilla, #7-Maren Haile-Selassie (#21-Andreas Hanche-Olsen 90+5); #9-Robert Lewandowski (#18-Johan Gomez 71), #19-Jonathan Bamba (#22-Mauricio Pineda 46)
Subs not used: #44-Josh Cohen, #15-Andrew Gutman, #29-David Poreba, #35-Sergio Oregel Jr.
NEW YORK CITY FC (4-3-3): #49-Matt Freese; #2-Nico Cavallo (#22-Kevin O’Toole 46), #6-James Sands (#32-Jonathan Shore 76), #13-Thiago Martins, #24-Tayvon Gray; #8-Andres Perea (#34-Raul Gustavo 60), #7-Nico Fernandez, #21-Aiden O’Neill; #17-Hannes Wolf (#88-Malachi Jones ), #16-Alonso Martinez (#20-Luighi 60), #26-Agustin Ojeda (#9-Benie Traore 76)
Subs not used: #30-Tomas Romero, #3-Matt Miazga, #23-Max Murray
EXPECTED GOALS: CHI 1.4-1.5 NYC
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 15-13 NYC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-5 NYC
FOULS: CHI 18-10 NYC
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-2 NYC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 4-4 NYC
SAVES: CHI 4-2 NYC
Referee: Brandon Stevie
Assistant Referees: Ian McKay, Jeffrey Swartzel
Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: David Barrie
AVAR: Kathryn Nesbett
Weather: Sunny and 70º
Attendance: 31,893
Man of the Match: Maren Haile-Selassie (CHI)
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