Chicago Fire Sets Sight for Starting the Season!

Photo Credit: Don MacGregor

Chicago Fire 2-Tulsa Roughnecks 1 

Chicago, IL-The Chicago Fire tuned up its final match of the preseason with a 2-1 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks at Toyota Park on Saturday afternoon.

Nemanja Nikolic and newcomer Elliot Collier each scored goals in a second half comeback effort for the Fire. Which sets the stage for their season opener next Saturday hosting Sporting Kansas City 5 p.m. at Toyota Park.

“On the other side, (Tulsa Roughnecks) was a great opponent and they pushed us to the max at this point,” Chicago Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said. “We needed a tough opponent and adversities. I thought they took advantage of our mistake, which brings the game to the next level. We now have to fight through that frustration that we have with the difficulties in the game.

“At the end, we came back. The guys did a good making adjustments in the second half. Overall it was a good experience for us, good game and fantastic test. Right now, we feel that we are ready. But we’ll have to make some adjustments this week and should be ready for the home opener.”

The Fire actually gave away the first goal in the 17th minute of play with a bad decision and communication in the back. Which Tulsa Roughnecks with some high pressure was able to take the ball away and Jhon Pirez slotted the ball into an empty net.

“When we went a goal down we made some adjustments,” Paunovic added. “There was a great reaction with some of the fouls and with typical things you see in the preseason. The guys came together, then they showed their character which was good and the team didn’t lose its composure. I think that’s important and we pushed ourselves to the limits. We got the most of the challenge here today.”

Chicago thought they had tied the match in the 34th minute of play on a well-placed pass from Aleksander Katai to Nikolic. Which Nikokic found the back of the net. But, he also ruled offsides on the play.

In the second half, the Fire seemed to be the aggressor more and more. They were pushing more players forward and Bastian Schweinsteiger was pushed into the offensive attack trying to get the tying goal.

“Bastian knows the game perfectly,” Paunovic said. “We’re going to find the right spots and gaps in between the lines to organize, be the open man and bring the ball to the opponents end. That’s the free roll that he’s always plays with us. Against all opponents we’ll look to take advantage of all the qualities he brings on the field.”

Schweinsteiger sent a point blank shot on goal in the 69th minute.  Roughnecks keeper Fabian Cerda pushed away the shot off to his left. But Drew Connor took control of the rebound and sent a short pass off to Nikolic. So, he finished and tied the match at 1-1.

“It was a great shot from Bastian and their goalkeeper made a great save on it,” Nikolic said. “Drew Conner did really good to read the situation and he gave me a perfect ball. I was in the right place at the right moment, like many times that I score goals. I tried to be close to the goal in front of the defenders. Give credit to Drew for giving me that ball.”

Collier off the bench in the last half hour, pushed forward and took advantage of a Roughnecks mistake and scored an unassisted goal and the game-winner in the 78th minute for the 2-1 difference.

“It was really good to score at home,” Collier said. “I was a little disappointed that I didn’t score the first one and made up for it  and scored the second one. I saw an opportunity to press and we like to press. They made a mistake and we capitalized. That goal was a good team goal.”

Scoring Summary

TUL – Jhon Pirez (UNA) 17

CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (Drew Connor) 69

CHI – Elliot Collier (UNA) 78

Misconduct Summary

TUL – Michael Gamble (yellow, unsporting behavior) 25

CHI – Tony Tchani (yellow, reckless foul) 54

CHI – Johan Kappelhof (yellow, reckless foul) 57

TUL – Jhon Pirez (yellow, reckless foul) 66

Chicago Fire: Stefan Cleveland (Patrick McLain 74); Matt Polster (Jorge Corrales 63), Johan Kappelhof (Drew Conner 66), Christian Dean (^Kevin Ellis 74), Brandon Vincent; Dax McCarty © (Mo Adams 74), Tony Tchani (Diego Campos 74); Aleksandar Katai (Omar Castro 86), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Brandt Bronico 74), Jon Bakero (Elliot Collier 63); Nemanja Nikolic (Albert Ruiz 74).   

 
Shots: 17; Shots On-Goal: 9; Fouls: 11; Saves: 2; Offsides: 5; Corners: 10.
 
Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Fabian Cerda; Claudio Munoz, Francisco Ugarte ©, Adrian Jusino, Riggs Lennon; Ivan Mirkovic, Michael Binns, Fernando Gabriel Arce, Michael Gamble, Eti Tavares; Jhon Pirez.
 
Shots: 8; Shots On-Goal: 4; Fouls: 8; Saves: 7; Offsides: 7; Corners: 6.

 

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