Chicago Fire’s Gilberto challenges Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin for a ball in the air (Photo Credit: Don McGregor/Windy City Soccer)
Match report courtesy of Dan Gaichas of Windy City Soccer
No one will question the effort tonight by the Fire, but a defensive lapse in the first 51 seconds of the match and the inability to finish in the 89:09 plus stoppage time after that doomed the Fire to a 1-0 loss and another wasted opportunity to close in on the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with both Montreal and Orlando losing on Saturday night.
Gabriel Torres sent a cross to an unmarked Dillon Serna for an easy finish and what would be the only score of the match from one of just two shots on goal.
By contrast, the Fire has 20 shots, but just four on target. David Accam forced a diving save of Clint Irwin in the 13th minute. Kennedy Igboananike had a shot deflected by a defender and then off the post and out in the 34th minute. Gilberto had a couple chances late as a substitute. Heading wide first and then a top poke go off the post in second half stoppage time.
The Fire are still five points adrift of the playoffs, but the Fire need to start winning games according to Michael Stephens.
“Today sums up the season,” said Stephens. “You can’t really explain what’s going on out there. Nothing seemed to fall our way, but a lot of that is us. We need to make it happen. It’s happened too many times this season to have it as a one-off excuse.
“Mathematically, we’re close, but if we don’t start winning games, you can’t telling yourself we’re going to make the playoffs when you go on long stretches of games without winning.”
Fans before and during the match staged protests throughout. Section 8 supporters clubs wore black, held a 90-minute tailgate outside the stadium, and then unfurled black tifos. The top of The Harlem End and the capo stand down below were covered in black bunting.
There will likely be more of that on Wednesday when the Fire take on the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night at home at 7:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Plus.
SCORING SUMMARY:
COL-Dillon Serna (Torres, Doyle) 1’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
COL-Clint Irwin (caution, deliberate handball) 10’
CHI-Jeff Larentowicz (caution, reckless foul) 35’
CHI-Patrick Nyarko (caution, endangering the goalkeeper) 52’
COL-Drew Moor (caution, reckless foul) 82’
COL-Gabriel Torres (caution, time wasting) 89’
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-1-1): #25- Sean Johnson; #2-Matt Polster, #6-Eric Gehrig, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #3-Joevin Jones; #14-Patrick Nyarko (#29-Gilberto 63’), #8-Matt Watson (#7-Jason Johnson 69’), #26-Michael Stephens, #11-David Accam; #19-Harry Shipp (#9-Mike Magee 85’); #77-Kennedy Igboananike
Subs not used: #18-Jon Busch, #24-Ty Harden, #5-Lovel Palmer, #30-Razvan Cocis, #9-Mike Magee
COLORADO RAPIDS (4-3-3): #1-Clint Irwin; #3-Drew Moor, #23-Bobby Burling (C), #24-Sean St. Ledger, #31-Maynor Figueroa; #2-Nick LaBrocca, #8-Dillon Powers (#19-Charles Eloundou 77’), #11-Marcelo Sarvas; #10-Gabriel Torres (#7-Vicente Sanchez 88’), #17-Dillon Serna, #9-Kevin Doyle
Subs not used: #18-Zac MacMath, #4-Marc Burch, #44-Axel Sjoberg, #94-Marlon Hairston, #15-Juan Ramirez
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 20-9 COL
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-2 COL
FOULS: CHI 12-16 COL
OFFSIDES: CHI 1-3 COL
CORNER KICKS: CHI 9-5 COL
SAVES: CHI 1-4 COL
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Referee’s Assistants: Jonathan Johnson, Jason White
4th Official: Juan Guzman
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 81º
Attendance: 18,317
Man of the Match: Gabriel Torres (COL)
Chicago Fire
Colorado Rapids
March, 2024
December, 2023
