Greek Fire: Chicago Fire 1, New York Red Bulls 0

The Fire traveled to Harrison, New Jersey looking for their first win since the Leagues Cup break. They got it.

In a match where both they and the Red Bulls were level on points and on the outside of the postseason picture looking in, the Fire achieved a win – something they had not done since facing Toronto FC back in July.

The win would not come easily for the Fire, who would end up being outshot 19 to four, despite being up a man for a large part of the match.

Injuries made Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas’s squad selection simpler, but not automatic. He kept the 4-2-3-1 formation that the Fire have used the majority the past two seasons. Xherdan Shaqiri, fresh off a suspension, returned to the #10 spot and was given the captain’s armband from the injured Rafael Czichos. Jairo Torres and Fabian Herbers flanked him behind Georgios Koutsias, making his second start since the Leagues Cup. Jonathan Dean, whose assist last week marked his first MLS point, kept his spot in the starting XI despite the return from suspension of Arnaud Souquet.

From the first kick through the opening minutes, Red Bulls controlled, but did not dominate possession, and neither team seemed particularly determined to go to goal in the opening minutes. The Red Bulls, though, would have the first good look on goal, as Luquinhas shot in the 14’ would sail wide of the net but force Brady to react.

Although the Fire would get a spell of strong possession shortly after that attack,the better lion’s share of possession and chances in the first half would belong to the hosts, and Brady would face 12 shots. Four were on target, forcing Brady to make a number of acrobatic saves saves, including a beautiful volley off a header from the Red Bulls’ Tom Barley in the 35’.

The Fire would end the first half without recording a single shot, on target or not, but with the score still tied at 0-0, due in no small part to the travails of Chris Brady.

The second half would pick up where the first left off - with the Red Bulls gaining possession and having the first offensive chant off a corner in the 46’, though once again the Fire would get a body on the ball before a truly dangerous chance happened.

Jairo Torres went down soon after, nursing his right leg on the pitch, forcing Klopas to go to his bench for the first time, bringing on Maren Haile-Selassie. The Swiss winger would soon get involved in the offense, receiving a pass from Shaqiri and playing it down the field, eventually crossing the ball into the box for Koutsias, who had time and space but didn’t fully commit to a ball which could have resulted in the Fire’s first shot – or first goal if he had headed it successfully. Perhaps out of an effort to make amends to his teammates, a strong, but studs-up challenge in the ensuing moments would earn Koutsias a yellow.

The next booking, though, would be in favor of the Fire. Hassan Ndam, who earned a booking in the opening minutes of the first half, would earn a second yellow seeing him sent off, putting the visitors up a man.

The Fire would not take long to take advantage. Shaqiri crossed the ball to Koutsias. This time, the Greek forward would make no mistake when given a chance from close range and head the ball into the net. First shot. First goal.

Soon after, the Fire would go to their bench looking to put the game to bed. Kacper Przybyłko would relieve the goal-scoring Koutsias, and Brian Gutiérrez, who had gone down with an injury that many had feared would keep him out for an extended period.

Searching for a goal with a man down, Troy Lesesne would do the obvious: Go to his bench and bring on Cory Burke, who has scored 10 goals in as many appearances against the Fire. He would also bring on Dru Yearwood, and soon after, Julian Hall.

The Fire, up a man and a goal, had all the advantages that a team could ask for. Multiple players, including Shaqiri, one of the highest-paid players in the league, would have a clean look on goal and send the shot wide. It would not be the last chance the Fire would miss, but in the end, despite late-minute dramatics as the Red Bulls stayed in the game and the Fire missed multiple opportunities to put the game away, it wouldn’t matter: The Red Bulls couldn’t convert, and the Fire would wind up 1-0.

As Saturday's matches wind to a close, the win puts the Fire in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one step removed from the postseason though level on points with CF Montréal, who hold ninth place and the final spot in the postseason grâce à their greater number of wins.

The return to Chicago for their last homestand of the season, starting with Wednesday’s match against Inter Miami at Soldier Field. The anticipated visit of Lionel Messi’s squad is expected to become the highest revenue-grossing regular season match in league history, and the game is still anticipated to be one of the most highly-attended games in Fire history, even if the Argentine legend, who did not dress on Saturday, is not in attendance.