BRIDGEVIEW, IL—Many times this season, the Chicago Fire has given up a late goal either to lose a game or settle for a draw. The effort has been there numerous times out on the pitch. But in each of those situations, there has been a momentary lapse of play that has hurt the club in trying to gain points in the standings.
The Chicago Fire gave up a 90th minute goal and settled for a 2-2 draw to the visiting New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park on Sunday night.
“After losing these two points is tough for me and tougher than any other defeat this year,” Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic said. “It’s very difficult after a great response for the team. When you tie the game and take the lead. It was a great response and see what we’ve learned, but we have to get better and still have the same issue conceding goals in the last minutes of the game. I think that maturity and mentality comes in play and I think that we did most of the things very well but we have to learn how to win games.”
From the outset, the New York Red Bulls (9-9-5, 23 points) were the aggressor early on in the match and took advantage of a Fire mistake in the 16th minute of play. Mike Grella sent a ball into the box in front of the goal. Chicago’s Matt Polster got in front of keeper Sean Johnson and toe-poked it in for an own goal and gave the visitors a one-goal advantage.
“It looked like Sean (Johnson) was going to have it,” Polster said. “It kind of hung up there. So the last second, I went for it. It was just a little of miscommunication. I didn’t hear anything, but I should’ve just cleared it myself. Sometimes, you have to take it into your own hands and just do it. I second guessed myself and that’s on me.”
The Fire (4-10-6, 18 points) though, put together a strong stretch of soccer, attacking in the final quarter-hour of the first half. First tying the game at 1-1 in the 35th minute. Michael de Leeuw left a pass for David Accam, which he slotted a shot inside the far post for his fifth goal of the season.
Then, a couple of minutes into extra-time, John Goossens sent a curling cross towards the back post. It was right where Polster found redemption with a diving header and put Chicago ahead 2-1.
“Right when I gave up the own goal, the whole team said it was fine,” Polster said. “We’re going to get it and win this game.. To have that feeing and the support of your teammates around you. It gave me a little energy, just to bring it around and help the team.”
In the second half, it was a battle of if the Fire could find another goal or seeing the Red Bulls pushing forward and attacking as time went on. Chicago’s defense was tough as nails working together and not letting up on each opportunity.
However, New York found a lapse against the Chicago defense in the 90th minute. The Fire couldn’t clear the ball from their end of the field. Connor Lade controlled the ball and had time to deliver a ball into the penalty area. Bradley Wright-Phillips, quiet all match long, scored on a volley-kick beating keeper Sean Johnson.
“I’ve been challenging (Wright-Phillips) to make more plays late in the game,” New York Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. “So I thought (Chicago) did a pretty good job being hard on him. Every team we play knows that Bradley is important. They focus in on him. He just manages to find ways to get goals.
“The key in the second half was to keep the mentality on the next play and not worry about plays coming off. The goals didn’t come right away and encourage the positive mentality. We’re were just trying to push, push and push. For Brad to make a big play like that late in the game, it was a big step for him and obviously a big play for our team.”
The Fire will be on the road taking on Real Salt Lake trying to break a 35-game winless streak next Saturday night at 9pm (CT).
SCORING SUMMARY:
NYRB-Own goal (Matt Polster-CHI) 16′
CHI-David Accam (Michael de Leeuw) 35′
CH-Matt Polster (John Goossens) 45+2
NYRB-Bradley Wright-Phillips (Connor Lade) 90′
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NYRB-Felipe (yellow card, unsporting behavior) 15′
CHI-Khaly Thiam (yellow card, unsporting behavior) 38′
NYRB-Mike Grella (yellow card, unsporting behavior) 57′
CHI-Razvan Cocis (yellow card, reckless foul) 76′
NYRB-Ronald Zubar (yellow card, unsporting behavior) 90+2
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #25-Sean Johnson; #5-Michael Harrington, #66-Jose Meira (Johnathan Campbell 43′), #13-Rodrigo Ramos, #4-Johan Kapalhof, #11-David Accam, #12-Arturo Alvarez (#30-Razvan Cocis 60′), #2-Matt Polster, #7-John Goossens (#21-Nick LaBrocca 82′), #19-Khaly Thiam, #8-MIchael de Leeuw.
Subs not used:#6-Eric Gehrig, #28-Matt Lampson, #3-Brandon Vincent, #26-Michael Stephens.
NEW YORK RED BULLS (4-2-3-1): #31-Luis Robles, #15-Sal Zizzo (Justin Bilyeu 73′), #78-Aurelien Collin, #5-Connor Lade, #23-Ronald Zubar, #16-Sacha Kljestan, #13-Mike Grella, #19-Alex Muyl (Gonzalo Veron 55′), #11-Dax McCarty (Sean Davis 43′), #8-Felipe, #99-Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Subs not used: #98-Shaun Wright-Phillips, #55-Darrien Perrinelle, #25-Chris Duvall, #24-Kyle Rynish.
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 7-12 NYRB
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-3 NYRB
FOULS: CHI 19-9 NYRB
OFFSIDES: CHI 6-1 NYRB
CORNER KICKS: CHI 1-10 NYRB
SAVES: CHI 1-2 NYRB
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Referee’s Assistants: Brian Poeschel, Logan Brown
4th Official: Chris Penso
Weather: Mostly Clear and 75º
Attendance: 17,221
Man of the Match: Matt Polster (CHI)
Chicago Fire
New York Red Bulls
