BRIDGEVIEW, IL–It was one of the better efforts this season from the Fire, yet it only counted for one point as they drew the Portland Timbers, 1-1, at Toyota Park in an entertaining match.
The Fire are now 2-16-8 against Cascadian sides and 0-4-3 all time against Portland. They will enter the Copa America break bottom of MLS on 11 points from 12 matches, but not for lack of trying in the last couple of matches.
Diego Valeri opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a clearance error by Rodrigo Ramos allowed him in and beat Sean Johnson from an acute angle.
That lead lasted just two minutes, though, as Kennedy Igboananike found a criminally unmarked David Accam from point-blank range and the latter made no mistake from six yards out to put the Fire on terms with the defending champions.
The Fire were clearly the better of the two sides in the second half. The best chance of the half came Igboananike’s way in the 64th minute after a feed from Accam, but Jake Gleeson would make a diving save to keep the score level and it would stay that way.
For both Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic and midfielder Matt Polster, despite not winning on Saturday night, there are signs that the team is improving.
“We’ll finally playing full 90’s together as a team,” said Polster. “During the beginning of the season, we were getting used to each other. We put in a good 65-70 minutes of a game. As were growing as a team now, we’re putting in a full 90 [minutes]together and we’re working hard on both sides of the ball.”
“It was one of the best performances we had this season,” said Paunovic. “Of course, we’re getting better. The only thing is that you get what you deserve. At the end, we can say we had a great game, but you have to win the game, so we have to learn to do that. I can only say that I’m proud of the guys. They had a great performance. We wanted to win until the end. We were close [to winning].
“All I can say now is that we have to keep the spirit and continue to improve and believe.”
The Fire are now off until Wednesday, June 15th, when they will play in the US Open Cup Fourth Round either away to Louisville City FC of the USL or home to Indy Eleven of the NASL. Time to be determined.
The next league match is away to Colorado on Saturday, June 18th, at 8pm on CSN Chicago Plus.
SCORING SUMMARY:
POR-Diego Valeri (unassisted) 18
CHI-David Accam (Igboananike, Meira) 20
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Johan Kappelhof (caution, tactical foul) 38
POR-Liam Ridgewell (caution, tactical foul) 69
CHI-Rodrigo Ramos (caution, reckless foul) 77
POR-Chris Klute (caution, tactical foul) 92+
CHICAGO FIRE (4-3-3): #25-Sean Johnson; #13-Rodrigo Ramos (#6-Eric Gehrig 82), #4-Johan Kappelhof, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #3-Brandon Vincent; #2-Matt Polster, #30-Razvan Cocis (C), #66-Joao Meira (#15-Joey Calistri 76); #12-Arturo Alvarez (319-Khaly Thiam 65), #77-Kennedy Igboananike, #11-David Accam
Subs not used: #28-Matt Lampson, #26-Michael Stephens, #21-Nick LaBrocca, #15-Joey Calistri, #29-Alex Morrell
PORTLAND TIMBERS (4-2-3-1): #90-Jake Gleeson; #16-Zarek Valentin, #7-Nat Borchers, #24-Liam Ridgewell (C), #15-Chris Klute; #21-Diego Chara, #14-Ben Zemanski; #26-Lucas Melano (#23-Jack Barmby 69), #8-Diego Valeri, #11-Dario Asprilla; #99-Jack McInerney (#9-Fanendo Adi 62)
Subs not used: #33-Wade Hamilton, #20-Taylor Peay, #18-Amobi Okugo, #13-Jack Jewsbury, #10-Ned Grabavoy
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 17-8 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-2 POR
FOULS: CHI 11-11 POR
OFFSIDES: CHI 5-0 POR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 10-5 POR
SAVES: CHI 1-5 POR
Referee: Mathieu Bordeau
Referee’s Assistants: Phil Briere, Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
Weather: Mostly Sunny and 81º
Attendance: 14,729
Man of the Match: Jake Gleeson (POR)\
Chicago Fire
Portland
