Chicago Fire 3-4 Philadelphia Union
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–There was a lot of news off the pitch prior to the Fire’s match with Philadelphia. Some of it was good and some of it was interesting. Then the match came and it was bad and likely make some fans wish more from the second piece of news on Wednesday.
The first piece of news was that the Fire completed the transfer of Aleksandar Katai from Alaves and he is signed through the 2019 season with a club option for 2020. Katai remains a TAM player for this season and will become a DP starting in 2019.
The second piece of news was that Morningstar founder and chairman Joe Mansueto acquired a 49% stake in the club. Andrew Hauptman retains a 51% controlling interest in the club. There will be a follow-up on that later this week. After Wednesday’s match, it leaves some fans wishing that Mr. Mansueto would have taken a larger share of the club.
Three times the Union went ahead, three times the Fire equalized, but David Accam of all people struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give the Union a 4-3 win before a small crowd of 12,008 at Toyota Park.
Prior to Wednesday, the Union had scored just four times away from Talen Energy Stadium and had won just once in eight away matches (1-6-1). For the Fire, only Orlando have allowed more goals and have tied Colorado for most home losses in the league.
Haris Medunjanin opened the scoring in the 31st minute after stripping Diego Campos and blazing by Johan Kappelhof—making his first start since being in an auto accident last week—to beat Richard Sanchez far post.
Katai proved why he belongs in Chicago eight minutes later by drawing a penalty which Nemanja Nikolic converted despite Andre Blake getting a touch on the spot kick.
Sanchez did not get a touch off a cross from Fabrice-Jean Picault just before halftime and Chris Burke did to put the Union ahead at the break.
Katai came to the rescue again in the 69th minute beating Blake far post with a low shot from outside the area.
Four minutes later though, Sanchez spilled a shot by David Accam that Burke was all too happy to tap in to give the Union a 3-2 lead.
Still, the Fire pressed on for yet another equalizer and got one in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Bastian Schweinsteiger headed in Diego Campos’s corner. However, the Union still took all three points as Accam charged towards the area and beat Sanchez for good.
Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic was upset with his team shipping goals as if they were charity, yet resigned to what he has at the moment.
“No team in the world, no team in the world, if we were in the Spanish league or somewhere else, teams that concede so many goals, they get relegated,” said Paunovic. “And it’s my responsibility. I have to make decisions, I have to move the pieces around, and figure it out, and have to train these guys. They are giving their best, but that’s what it is. I’m just going to do more and look for a better quality of giving the guys tools individually and as a team to defend.”
Union head coach Jim Curtin praised his team’s heart on a crazy, Wednesday night.
“Probably a million talking points from tonight,” said Curtin. “I think the narrative changed six or seven times during the course of 90 minutes, so I’ll just stick with the positive. I’m really proud of the group for the fight that they’ve shown. We could’ve laid down at 3-3 and try to get out of here with a point, but credit to David Accam. He stepped up for us and got us a big goal.”
Fire Supporters Groups continued their boycott to protest the revocation of season tickets of supporters in Section 101 by the club for repeated violation of the club and league code of conduct. It once again told during the match.
This is what Joe Mansueto is getting into now as vice-chairman of the Fire as he now must deal with a partner who is deeply unpopular, a president and general manager who is increasingly unpopular, a team on the pitch that desperately needs reinforcements, and a fan base that needs lots of reason to support this team again.
SCORING SUMMARY:
PHI-Haris Medunjanin (unassisted) 31
CHI-Nemanja Nikolic (penalty kick) 39
PHI-Cory Burke (Picault) 45+3
CHI-Aleksandar Katai (Schweinsteiger) 69
PHI-Cory Burke (unassisted) 73
CHI-Bastian Schweinsteiger (Campos) 90+4
PHI-David Accam (Medunjanin) 90+5
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Jorge Corrales (caution, delaying a restart) 5
PHI-Cory Burke (caution, reckless tackle) 8
CHI-Johan Kappelhof (caution, reckless foul) 83
PHI-David Accam (caution, excessive celebration) 90+6
CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): #45-Richard Sanchez; #5-Kevin Ellis (#28-Elliot Collier 13), #4-Johan Kappelhof, #25-Jorge Corrales; #6-Dax McCarty (#12-Tony Tchani 86), #13-Brandt Bronico (#21-Alan Gordon 76); #10-Aleksandar Katai, #31-Bastain Schweinsteiger, #17-Diego Campos; #23-Nemanja Nikolic
Subs not used: #32-Stefan Cleveland, #26-Christian Dean, #19-Mo Adams, #22-Jon Bakero
PHILADELPHIA UNION (4-2-3-1): #18-Andre Blake; #12-Keegan Rosenberry, #4-Mark McKenzie, #26-Auston Trusty, #28-Raymon Gaddis; #6-Haris Medunjanin, #11-Alejandro Bedoya; #10-Borek Dockal (#2-Warren Creavalle 66), #25-Ilsinho (#7-David Accam 17), #9-Fabrice-Jean Picault; #19-Cory Burke (#17-CJ Sapong 77)
Subs not used: #1-John McCarthy, #33-Fabinho, #3-Jack Elliott, #20-Marcus Epps
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 11-13 PHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-6 PHI
FOULS: CHI 9-12 PHI
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-1 PHI
CORNER KICKS: CHI 4-2 PHI
SAVES: CHI 2-3 PHI
Referee: Dave Gantar
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Chris Wattam
4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
Video Assistant Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 82º
Attendance: 12,008
Man of the Match: Cory Burke (PHI)
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
March, 2024
