Late penalty denies Fire against Toronto FC

Chicago Fire 2-2 Toronto FC

CHICAGO, IL–Chicago Fire FC has playoffs on their minds for the first time since 2017. But the Fire missed an opportunity to gain points and move up in the Eastern Conference for a better playoff spot.

There were three points available for Chicago, but they had to settle for one with a 2-2 draw with visiting Toronto Saturday night at Soldier Field in the final home regular season match in front of 24,653 fans.

“First off I want to thank the fans for the entire season coming out and supporting us,” Chicago Fire FC coach Gregg Berhalter said. “You can see the environment was rocking and it was the loudest that I heard Soldier Field and it was the last home game of the season. It’s ironic that we give up a goal late and it’s disappointing. It was a tale of two halves, we learned and saw in the second half. The bounce was outstanding and on the front foot.”

The Fire held a 2-1 advantage late, and it looked like it was going in favor of Chicago. In stoppage time, a unfortunate foul in the box created a Toronto penalty kick as Sigurd Rosted was fouled and tripped at the same time by Jonathan Bamba.

Djordje Mihailovic took the kick from the spot that was saved by the Fire keeper Chris Brady. The ball came out of the hands of Brady and Mihailovic scored on the loose ball for a rebound goal in the 100th minute for the 2-2 tie.

‘It’s a shame at the end and we need to be calmer,” Berhalter said. “We also need to be calm in defending. I just think we lost some of our poise.”

The draw leaves Chicago with a point at (15-11-7, 52 points) in the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. Sitting one point behind Orland City FC and one point ahead of Columbus with one match remining in the regular league schedule to be played in two weeks.

Photo: Leslie Smith

For the Fire, Jack Elliot did something that no Fire has done before. Score three goals with the first one being an own goal.

Toronto earned themselves the first goal of the match with the help from the Fire. Derrick Etienne Jr. kicked a low cross in front of the Chicago goal that went off the leg of Elliott for an own goal and a 1-0 advantage in the 28th minute.

Chicago found a way to even up the match. Elliott scored on a header off the Phillip Zinckernagel corner kick in the 71st minute.

Elliott added a diving header that he scored near the back post off a free kick from Zinckernagel outside the penalty area to the left.

“It’s always good to be able to make some runs and repay some debts,” Elliott said. “It was good to get the goals and get back at that.”

Zinckernagel has put together one of the best seasons with the Fire with 14 goals and 15 assists that set a new mark in team history.

“We’ve seen all season, how much (Elliott) is dangerous on set pieces,” Zinckernagel said. “He probably could score more and has that potential to be very dangerous every game. Before this game I knew I was close (to the record). It was a goal of mine to get it. Right now, it doesn’t feel very satisfying because we didn’t win and we didn’t get the three points. It’s a huge achievement and I’m just happy I did it and found a way to help the team.”

The Fire will be at New England Revolution on Saturday, October 18th for Decision Day. Kickoff is at 5pm CT.

Photos by Leslie Smith

SCORING SUMMARY
TOR-Own goal (Jack Elliott) 28′
CHI-Elliott (Zinckernagel) 71′
CHI-Elliott (Zinckernagel) 89′
TOR-Mihailovic (unassisted) 100′

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Zinckernagel (yellow, unsporting behavior) 21′
TOR-Laryea (yellow, unsporting behavior) 74′
TOR-Mihailovic (yellow, dissent) 90
CHI-Waterman (yellow, unsporting behavior) 101′

CHICAGO FIRE: #1-Brady, #15-Gutman, #5 Rogers (#24-Dean 61), #3-Elliott, #16-Waterman, #17-Gutierrez (#19-Bamba 46), #35-Oregel (#42-D’Avilla 46), #22-Pineda (#6-Kouame 61), #7Halle-Selassie, #9-Cuypers (#12-Barlow 81), #11-Zinckerrnagel.

Subs not used: #23-Acosta, #25-Gal, #36-Reynolds, #38-Cupps.

TORONTO FC: #1-Johnson, #22-Larvea, #17-Roasted, #6-Thompson, #19-Franklin, #14-Coello, #8-Cifuentes (#23-Dominguez 70), #21-Osorio, #11-Etienne Jr. (#76-Stefanovic 64), #29-Kerr (#7-Carboneau 84), #10-Mihailovic

Subs not used: #90-Gavran, #71-Cimermancic, #99-Vilsaint, #78-Henry, #23-Dominguez

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-7 TOR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-4 TOR
FOULS: CHI 14-10 TOR
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-0 TOR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 8-9 TOR
SAVES: CHI 3-4 TOR

Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistant Referees: Cory Richardson and Nick Uranga
Fourth Official: Ismir Pekmic
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Assistant VAR: Mike Kampmeinert
Weather: Mostly clear and 81
Attendance: 24,653