Sporting Kansas City 2-0 Chicago Fire FC
KANSAS CITY, KS—If there is one match that is a microcosm of how Chicago Fire FC have fared since the start of the 2020 season, it is this one where the Fire lost 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City. Defensive errors proved too costly, especially when coupled with a lack of a finishing product. It sums up to the Fire now eight points out of seventh place with now five teams to pass in the Eastern Conference.
Sporting KC end a four-match winless streak and move to within two points of West-leading Seattle.
Bobby Shuttleworth, who has otherwise proved reliable in goal for the Fire, let a Jose Mauri shot go through his legs in the fourth minute to give Sporting KC the lead. Two minutes later on a counter attack. Shuttleworth made the save on the initial shot by Daniel Salloi, but Johnny Russell was able to come in unabated for a tap-in.
Russell nearly made it 3-0 after striking the post in the 42nd minute and Alan Pulido was just wide with an effort of his own in the first half.
The Fire played remarkably better in the second half after moving up Luka Stojanovic and inserting new signing Federico Navarro into the match, yet the lack of an end product was still apparent. Stojanovic stuck the bar in the 58th minute and Herbers did the same six minutes later.
The Fire continue on their travels as they face DC United on Wednesday at 6:30pm on WGN-TV.
SCORING SUMMARY:
SKC-Jose Mauri (Walter) 4
SKC-Johnny Russell (unassisted) 6
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Luka Stojanvoic (caution, tactical foul) 32
CHI-Federico Navarro (caution, tactical foul) 53
CHI-Miguel Navarro (caution, reckless foul) 68
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (4-3-3): #29-Tim Melia; #8-Graham Zusi, #6-Ilie Sanchez, #3-Andreu Fontas, #36-Luis Martins; #17-Gadi Kinta, #32-Jose Mauri (#11-Khiry Shelton 78), #54-Remi Walter; #7-Johnny Russell, #9-Alan Pulido (#28-Cameron Duke 85), #20-Daniel Salloi
Subs not used: #1-John Pulskamp, #19-Grayson Barber, #96-Wilson Harris, #48-Kaveh Rad, #13-Amadou Dia, #4-Roberto Puncec
CHICAGO FIRE (3-4-3): #1-Bobby Shuttleworth; #23-Carlos Teran, #22-Mauricio Pineda (#31-Federico Navarro 45), #3-Jonathan Bornstein; #2-Boris Sekulic (#14-Jhon Espinosa 45), #10-Alvaro Medran, #8-Luka Stojanovic, #6-Miguel Navarro; #21-Fabian Herbers, #27-Robert Beric (#9-Chinoso Offor 45), #99-Stanislav Ivanov (#7-Ignacio Aliseda 70)
Subs not used: #32-Gabriel Slonina, #7-Ignacio Aliseda, #20-Wyatt Omsberg, #4-Johan Kappelhof, #28-Elliot Collier, #37-Javier Casas
TOTAL SHOTS: SKC 16-13 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: SKC 6-3 CHI
FOULS: SKC 8-14 CHI
OFFSIDES: SKC 2-4 CHI
CORNER KICKS: SKC 7-2 CHI
SAVES: SKC 3-4 CHI
Referee: Jon Freemon
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Chris Ruska
VAR: Hilario Grajeda
Weather: Sunny and 84º
Attendance: 18,467
Man of the Match: Johnny Russell (SKC)
