BRIDGEVIEW, IL–In the end, neither team got the result they needed, and probably got the result they deserved. The Whitecaps got a goal courtesy of a David Ousted howler while the Fire got a penalty from VAR and equalized en route to a 1-1 draw.

The Whitecaps are still winless after their sixth match of the year (0-4-2) while the Fire just have the one home win in their first four home matches (1-1-2). 

Despite dominating the first half in terms of chances and possession, the Fire were unable to translate that into goals. That bit them in the 53rd minute after David Ousted tried to handle Jon Erice’s cross, but dropped the ball after realizing he was almost out of the area and pushed it into the path of Yordy Reyna who slotted it into an open net.

“In the locker room, I apologized for putting us in that hole. It was a mistake from my side. It hurts, especially in a game like this where we needed three points and we had the majority of chances, but that’s the nature of the position,” said Ousted.

The Whitecaps nearly doubled their lead on a counter in the 75th minute, but substitute Joaquin Ardaiz struck it off the crossbar. And that would bite the Whitecaps after a VAR review determined that Doneil Henry handled a ball in the area in the 82nd minute and referee Jair Maruffo pointed to the spot. 

Nemanja Nikolic converted the spot kick six minutes from time and it ended honors even, though neither team’s performance could be worthy of honors. 

“The angle doesn’t look like it was a penalty shot,” said Whitecaps coach Marc Dos Santos. “I don’t know if the referee saw it. I’m going to go and look and I’m going to be upset if [the play]was not a penalty shot. In six games, we had VAR every game. It’s incredible. I’ll have to start putting it in training. [The referee] promised me it was a penalty shot and I’ll go and look at all the angles and have my opinion.”

As for the Fire, head coach Veljko Paunovic laments his team’s lack of precision in the final third despite the attacking talent at his disposal.

“Definitely we are not happy with the result today,” said Paunovic. “We have a lot of pieces in attack. The guys are creating a lot of opportunities, a lot of shots on goal, finishing actions. It’s just precision. We lack of precision and the final pass.”

The Fire return to action next Saturday at home against Colorado at noon CT (ESPN+) while the Whitecaps host LAFC on Wednesday at 7pm PT (TSN 1/3).

SCORING SUMMARY:

VAN-Yordy Reyna (unassisted) 53 

CHI-Nemanja Nikolic (penalty kick) 84

BOOKING SUMMARY:

CHI-Mo Adams (caution, reckless foul) 40

VAN-Maxime Crepeau (caution, time wasting) 79

CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1):  #1-David Ousted; #4-Johan Kappelhof,,#2-Marcelo, #31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, #33-Jeremiah Gutjahr; #19-Mo Adams (#14-Djordje Mihailovic 66), #6-Dax McCarty; #9-CJ Sapong, #20-Nico Gaitan (#18-Cristian Martinez 73), #10-Aleksandar Katai; #23-Nemanja Nikolic

Subs not used:  #45-Richard Sanchez, #17-Diego Campos, #15-Grant Lillard, #13-Brandt Bronico, #12-Amando Moreno

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC (4-3-3):  #16-Maxime Crepeau; #23-Scott Sutter, #22-Erik Godoy, #2-Doneil Henry, #53-Ali Adnan; #8-Felipe Martins, #6-Jon Erice, #31-Russell Teibert; #29-Yordy Reyna (#7-Lucas Venuto 66), #12-Fredy Montero (#9-Joaquin Ardaiz 72), #4-Inbeom Hwang (#19-Lass Bangoura 90+1)

Subs not used:  #18-Zach MacMath, #13-Derek Cornelius, #28-Jake Nerwinski, #94-PC

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 23-9 VAN

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 6-2 VAN

FOULS:  CHI 7-10 VAN

OFFSIDES:  CHI 2-1 VAN

CORNER KICKS:  CHI 6-2 VAN

SAVES:  CHI 1-5 VAN

Referee:  Jair Maruffo

Referee’s Assistants:  Corey Rockwell, Jose Da Silva

4th Official:  Ismir Pekmic

Weather:  Mostly Sunny and 50º

Attendance:  10,439

Man of the Match:  Jeremiah Gutjahr (CHI)