Fire lack killer instinct in home loss to Union

Chicago Fire 0-1 Philadelphia Union

CHICAGO, IL—If the Fire are to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, they need to take care of business at home. Matches like Wednesday’s against the Union will not cut it. The 1-0 loss to Philadelphia makes it back-to-back losses at home and the fourth home game of eight where they have been blanked.

Despite missing seven starters, including Andre Blake (Gold Cup with Jamaica) and Tai Baribo (calf injury and travel difficulties), all the Union would need was a Bruno Damiani penalty in the tenth minute. That penalty came after Andrew Gutman handed a cross in the area.

The Fire were flat for most of the first half as they had trouble connecting passes. Still, they have one great chance as Phillip Zinckernagel—who was named to the MLS All-Star Team earlier in the day—shot a ball off the crossbar.

Photo: Leslie Smith

While the Fire eventually outshot the Union, 15-11, just two shots ended up on target and one by Brian Gutierrez was blocked late by Jakob Glesnes. Outside of that, the Fire appeared to lack a creative spark that could break down the Union who become the first team this season to reach 40 points.

Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter noted the lack of a killer instinct on the evening.

“Normally, we’re pretty good at creating dangerous goal-scoring opportunities,” said Berhalter. “And today, there were a few, but it wasn’t enough, especially for the home game. So something we’re going to talk to the group about, something we should look at, because we want to be scoring more goals, especially at home.”

The Fire will have an opportunity to respond to this low point in the season when they host Charlotte FC on Saturday (7:30pm CT, Apple TV).

“I think it will be a good opportunity for a response from the group,” said Berhalter. “Obviously, when you’re not happy with the game, you get an opportunity a couple days later to show a response, and that’s the most important thing. We want to win. But to me, it’s really important that we focus on this process and really see the players respond from a tough loss tonight.”

Photos by Leslie Smith

SCORING SUMMARY:
PHI-Bruno Damiani (penalty kick) 10

BOOKING SUMMARY:
PHI-Jovan Lukic (caution, tactical foul) 35
PHI-Jakob Glesnes (caution, tactical foul) 50
PHI-Jesus Bueno (caution, delaying a restart) 72
CHI-Omar Gonzalez (caution, tactical foul) 81
PHI-Olwethu Makhanya (caution, delaying a restart) 90
PHI-Alejandro Bedoya (caution, tactical foul) 90+2

CHICAGO FIRE (4-3-3): #25-Jeff Gal; #15-Andrew Gutman, #3-Jack Elliott, #34-Omar Gonzalez, #2-Leonardo Barroso (#24-Jonathan Dean 80); #35-Sergio Oregel (#23-Kellyn Acosta 70), #22-Mauricio Pineda, #17-Brian Gutierrez; #19-Jonathan Bamba (#7-Maren Haile-Selassie 70) #9-Hugo Cuypers (#12-Tom Barlow 73), #11-Phillip Zinckernagel

Subs not used: #31-Brian Dowd, #26-Omari Glasgow, #5-Sam Rogers, #47-Sam Williams, #42-Dje D’Avilla

PHILADELPHIA UNION (4-4-2): #76-Andrew Rick; #27-Kai Wagner, #29-Olwethu Makhanya, #5-Jakob Glesnes, #11-Alejandro Bedoya; #16-Ben Bender (#8-Jesus Bueno 65), #4-Jovan Lukic, #14-Jeremy Rafanello, #19-Indiana Vassilev; #25-Chris Donovan (#35-Markus Anderson 71), #20-Bruno Damiani (#77-Eddie Davis 88)

Subs not used: #1-Oliver Semmle, #12-Isiah LeFlore, #17-Chris Olney, #22-David Vazquez, #44-Neil Pierre, #24-Nick Pariano

EXPECTED GOALS: CHI 0.9-1.2 PHI
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 15-11PHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 2-3 PHI
FOULS: CHI 21-21 PHI
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-0 PHI
CORNER KICKS: CHI 1-4 PHI
SAVES: CHI 2-1 PHI

Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Corey Parker
4th Official: Jon Freemon
VAR: Fotis Bazakos
AVAR: Matthew Seem
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 74º
Attendance: 17,231
Man of the Match: Jakob Glesnes (PHI)