Chicago Fire 2-2 Portland Timbers
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—A couple of MLS clubs trying to find its footing a few weeks into the soccer season, while playing on a windy evening. It was a back and forth match until Chicago’s Brandon Vincent’s game tying header late in the match secured a 2-2 draw with visiting Portland at Toyota Park on Saturday.
For the Fire (0-2-1), it was their first point in three matches after a couple of disappointing defeats. Meanwhile, the Timbers (0-2-2) picked up its second draw after starting its fourth match out of five on the road.
However, compared to Chicago’s fortunes of last summer and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The start of this season has been a total disappointment.
“First, I want to send a message to our fans,” Chicago Fire coach Vejko Paunovic said. “Thank you, for coming especially after the two not so good performances we had. It was very helpful to see them come and support the team. Again, in a game that we struggled and had to fight back and score.”
For the Chicago Fire, there’s a need to get back to its winning ways and figure things out quickly.
“Also, I want to send a message to what I exactly said to the team. ‘Get ready and prepare for a tough couple of months. Because, we are from the team that we were and it’s going to take some time to fix it. We have to stick together.’ I want to make that clear. We have a good team, but we’re still not in the shape that this team used to play and showed in the past. The past is behind and what we have to do now is what’s in front of us. It’s a difficult situation with a lack off confidence, lack of precision and the lack of product. I promise we will fix it and I promise that in a couple of months I’ll make a different outlook.”
On Saturday, Portland had its best chance to get its first victory and let the Fire back into the match on a couple of occasions.
“We lost a chance for three points,” Portland coach Giovanni Savarese said. “We did a lot of god things and felt like we could’ve had this win today and get our first three points. I thought the guys did a fantastic job and we’ve got to continue to work. It’s a good sign going 2-2.”
The Timbers got on the board in the sixth minute off play. Diego Valeri scored off a pass from Fanendo Adi in the final third and was left unmarked by the Fire defense.
Going into the break, the Fire were down by a goal, but had the wind at its back for the second half. Also, Chicago made an adjustment going into a 3-5-2. It gave the Fire a bit of an offensive presence which they out-shot the Timbers 11-2 for the final 45 minutes.
Last year’s Golden Boot winner Nemanja Nikolic notched his third goal in three games with a sliding kick from a Vincent cross in front of the goal in the 50th minute tying the match at one a piece. Also, Bastian Schweinsteiger made an extra effort keeping the ball alive in the left side of the penalty area before getting it to Vincent.
The Timbers’ responded five minutes later when Sebastian Blanco scored off a cross from Andres Flores and made the score 2-1.
Then, Chicago tied the match up a second time. Schweinsteiger lofted a service into the penalty area, off the head off Vincent into the back of the net in the 85th minute
“It was a great ball by Bastian,” Vincent said. “I looked to make that run a couple of times throughout the game. This time, I got there at the right time and got the ball. I was able to get my head on it. I was seeing the flight of the ball, tried to sneak in and get in front of the guy.”
Chicago Fire will next host the Columbus Crew next Saturday evening 7:30pm back at Toyota Park.
SCORING SUMMARY:
POR-Diego Valeri (Fanendo Adi) 6
CHI-Nemanja Nikolic (Brandon Vincent) 50
POR-Sebastian Blanco (Andres Flores) 55
CHI-Brandon Vincent (Bastian Schweinsteiger) 85
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Aleksander Katai (caution, reckless foul) 12
PORT-Diego Valeri (caution, reckless foul) 52
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #45-Richard Sanchez; #5-Kevin Ellis (#21-Alan Gordon 75), #4-Johan Kappelhof, #3-Brandon Vincent;#26-Christian Dean #6-Dax McCarty, #12-Tony Tchani (#13-Brandt Bronico 58), #31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, #10-Aleksandar Katai (#17-Diego Campos 46); #28-Elliot Collier, #23-Nemanja Nikolic
Subs not used: #32-Patrick McClain, #18-Drew Conner, #22-Jon Bakero, #15-Grant Lillard
PORTLAND TIMBERS (4-3-2-1): #90-Jake Gleason, #33-Larrys Mabiala, #32-Marco Farfan (#5-Vytautas Andriuskevicius 82) , #16-Zarek Valentin, #8-Diego Valieri, #22-Cristhian Parades, #10-Sebastian Blanco, #21-Diego Chara, #14-Andres Flores (#18-Julio Cascante 87), #9-Fenendo Adi (#99-Samuel Amenteros 90)
Subs not used: #27-Dairon Asprilla, , #11-Andy Polo, #1-Jeff Attinella, #23-Jack Barmby
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-8 PORT
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-3 PORT
FOULS: CHI 9-9 PORT
OFFSIDES: CHI 5-2 PORT
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-1 PORT
SAVES: CHI 1-1 PORT
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell and Jeremy Kieso
Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Alan Kelly
Weather: Partly Sunny and 56º
Attendance: 13,678
Man of the Match: Brandon Vincent (CHI)
Chicago Fire
Portland
April, 2024
