2024 Match Reports

Chicago Fire beats FCC 1-0 due to defensive error

FCC head coach Pat Noonan and referee Filip Dujic argue following Noonan's red card. Photo by David Starcher.

In 1871, the great Chicago Fire consumed the Windy City, giving them their now infamous nickname. But on Wednesday night, the temperature was raised in the Queen City as some questionable calls, physical play and a 1-0 result saw the Fire walk out of TQL Stadium with all three points.

The match featured rotated lineups on both sides. FCC captain, Luciano Acosta, was the most notable absence. The Argentine picked up a foot injury and for the first time since September 2023, missed an MLS lineup entirely. For Chicago, star players Kellyn Acosta and Brian GutiƩrrez started the match on the pine.

The first half had a forgettable start. Neither club saw much joy in the attacking third. But in the tenth minute, a begging Arnaud Souquet attempt from outside the box saw Roman Celentano make the matchā€™s first save. After a long ball played to Hugo Cuypers went too far out ahead of him, Celentano mistakenly played the ball right to the feet of Cuypers. This forced Celentano to come up with another save.

FCCā€™s best chance at goal in the first half came in the 26th minute. The chaotic sequence started with a free kick just inside the FCC attacking third. A Luca Orellano delivery was punched out by the Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady, causing the ball to shuffle over to Pavel Bucha whose cross into the box was headed down by a Chicago defender. Yuya Kubo was in perfect position to time the ballā€™s bounce and rip a shot that got blocked by Gaston Gimenez. The ball fell to Kipp Keller who was able to get an off-balanced foot on it but it was blocked by Allan Arigoni. The ball stayed in play. Ian Murphy chested the ball into a tight-angle shot that again was blocked by Gimenez. The chaos ended with a misfired shot by Bucha that went left of the frame.

The hostilities of the match began with a foul by the Fire midfielder Fabian Herbers on Kubo in the 35th minute. The game plan by Chicago was decidedly physical in nature. Herbers’ foul was the seventh from the Fire to that point and resulted in him receiving a yellow card. Moments later, Herbers yet again fouled Yamil Asad. Then, in the 40th minute, a Herbers late tackle swept the legs of Gerardo Valenzuela. This raised immediate shouts for a second yellow but match official Filip Dujic settled for warning the midfielder. FC Cincinnatiā€™s squad was clearly displeased with that decision, and it fueled dissent for the rest of the match.

The matchā€™s lone goal came in the 69th minute when a misjudged headed volley from Keller in the midfield led to a breakaway run by Cuypers. Cuypers drove the ball forward before laying off to GutiĆ©rrez for an easy tap-in underneath a driving Celentano.

The pressure of going down a goal cranked up the temperature for the puzzlingly officiated match. In the 72nd minute, a seemingly innocuous challenge by Bret Halsey in front of the FCC bench led to a fiery response from the coaching staff. Pat Noonan ultimately received a yellow card for the situation.

The Orange and Blue had a potential opportunity to tie the match in the 79th minute but Sergio Santosā€™ shot went wide right of the net.

Yet again a yellow card was issued to the FCC bench in the 85th minute after Kenny Arena was displeased with an unclear grievance during a Chicago injury pause.

In the 88th minute, Alvas Powell received a yellow card for shoving Souquet to the ground at the endline. He received a second yellow for contact above the shoulders of Wyatt Omsberg during the ensuing scuffle. Powell would be sent off, but he wouldnā€™t be the last FCC member sent off. In the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, Pat Noonan received a second yellow card for once again going after the match officials.

The ugly match and ugly result now make two consecutive home losses for FCC. They will look to bounce back on Saturday on the road versus Red Bull New York.

Goals

CIN- none

CHI- GutiĆ©rrez 69ā€™

Lineups

CIN:Ā Roman Celentano, Yamil Asad (Bret Halsey 61ā€™), Ian Murphy, Kipp Keller (Kevin Kelsy 80ā€™), DeAndre Yedlin (C), Luca Orellano, Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo (Aaron Boupendza 87ā€™), Gerardo Valenzuela (Alvas Powell 61ā€™), Corey Baird (Sergio Santos 46ā€™), Yuya Kubo

Substitutes not used:Ā Evan Louro, Paul Walters, Isaiah Foster, London Aghedo

CHI:Ā Chris Brady, Arnaud Souquet, Rafael Czichos, Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Dean (Brian GutiĆ©rrez 59ā€™), Allan Arigoni, Maren Haile-Selassie (Tobias Salquist 90+2ā€™), Chris Mueller (Tom Barlow 59ā€™), Fabian Herbers (Kellyn Acosta 46ā€™), Gaston Gimenez (C), Hugo Cuypers (Georgios Koutsias 80ā€™)

Substitutes not used:Ā Spencer Richey, Mauricio Pineda, Javier Casas, David Poreba

Next Match

MLS Regular Season ā€“ at Red Bull New York ā€“ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20th ā€“ AppleTV+

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