Ill-Fated: Chicago Fire 2, D.C. United 2
One week after Chicago Fire fans got a taste of the Gregg Berhatler era on TV, they got to see it live as the team hosted D.C. United at Soldier Field. Last week, a promising start turned into a familiar result as the Fire saw two leads evaporate on the way to a 4-2 loss. This week, it was the Fire who were able to claw back, but on the last kick of the game, a once-in-a-lifetime bicycle kick from Jacob Murrell saw a 2-1 lead evaporate into a 2-2 draw.
Going into the match, the Fire knew that they had a number of headwinds to face, not the least of which was an acute availability crisis, with eight players, including Brian Gutiérrez, the team’s only goalscorer this season, unavailable heading into the match. The absences did create opportunities, however, giving 19-year-old Fire II player Sam Williams his first MLS start. By kickoff, the Fire’s infirmary would have another patient, as Carlos Terán sustained an injury in warmups, making Sam Rogers the Fire’s second starter to make an MLS debut on the night.
Terán’s injury proved to be a portended the start of the Fire’s game of the Fire’s fortunes early in the match. The game was fast-paced from kickoff. D.C. had two shots in the opening two minutes of play. Gabriel Pirani’s shot missed, but a minute later, a cross made its way to Christian Benteke’s foot from a handful of feet from the Fire goal, but Chris Brady was equal to the task and denied the reigning MLS Golden Boot winner. A minute later, the Fire responded, moving the ball quickly up the pitch to Jonathan Bamba who played it to Hugo Cuypers. The Fire’s Belgian striker did his best imitation of his countryman at the otherside of the pitch, but his header, unlike so many of Benteke’s last year, was saved.
Despite the attempt, the momentum stayed with the visitors, and in the 4th minute, D.C. played a pass from their own half to Gabriel Pirani who made rapid progress towards the Fire goal line. The D.C. midfielder crossed it to Benteke just outside the six yard box, who buried it past Chris Brady, putting the hosts up 1-0.
D.C. continued to press in the moments after the goal, with Benteke looking particularly dangerous just moments later the Fire’s Jack Elliott misplayed the ball and it made its way to Benteke’s right foot at the top of the six yard box who will waste no opportunity to take an attempt at goal. This time, however, Brady had the answer, his save keeping the Fire within a goal.
After that, the game settled into a kind of chaotic balance. D.C. were quicker and happier to play long balls, knowing that any touch from Benteke could be dangerous. The Fire, meanwhile, were able to build out of the back with growing confidence, but the team rarely broke through into truly dangerous situations.
They did, however, manage to win a corner in the 30th minute which made it’s way to Jonathan Bamba who played it Elliot for a header. He missed, but after the restart, the Fire won another header. This time, Philip Zinckernagel’s header made it directly to Jack Elliot, tho played it down to Hugo Cuypers who buried his shot taken just off of Kim Joon Hong’s goal line, leveling the score. The play was checked for the potential of offside involvement by the Fire but the goal stood, leveling the game for the home team. The goal was the first of the campaign for the Fire designated player, and the first point for Zinckernagel, learning the benefits the MLS secondary assist for his corner.
At the half, although D.C. had more of the shots and possession, the Fire seemed to be growing more comfortable into the game and they went into the locker room with reason for confidence going into the second half. After the match, Zinckernagel explained the shift, saying the Fire played into D.C.’s plans too easily in the early going, “playing it too short and into too many duos,” but “once we understood the game and how they pressed, that we had space in behind – that we could play a little bit longer and then suddenly the game opened up.”
On the restart, the Fire used that to their advantage, winning an early corner but ultimately, the game settled into the same pattern that prevailed in the first half. There were for each team and nothing definitive from either. The Fire came close, when Andrew Gutman played a cross to Jonathan Dean in the 56th minute just outside the box. Dean was able to get a shot off, but it didn’t have much power for it and it made for an easy save for Joon Hong.
Fifteen minutes later, however, the Fire had their breakthrough. In a carbon copy of the Fire’s first goal, Zinckernagel took a corner, headed by Jack Elliott for Hugo Cuypers at short range. 2-1 Fire but this time, it was ruled that the ball had made it off a D.C. defender before making its way to Cuypers, denying the duo assists on the play.
It was the last action of the match for Cuypers, still on limited minutes after missing preseason from an injury, as he made his way for Tom Barlow. Zinckernagel also gave way for Omari Glasgow. A few minutes later, the Guyanese international made his presence felt, setting Bamba at the right side of the box, but his shot was off target.
D.C. United had a resurgence in the minutes after, and began to look more dangerous. The Fire soon settled them down, giving Berhalter the opportunity to bring on Mauricio Pineda and Omar González for Sam Williams and Sergio Oregel.
Just when it looked like the group was ready to see the Fire off for their first victorious home opener since 2017, disaster struck. Sam Rogers was ruled to have had a hand ball in the box in the 89th minute, giving Benteke a chance from the spot at an almost certain equalizer. Incredibly, the Belgian missed, sending a relatively weak shot over Brady’s net.
The Fire’s salvation would prove to be short lived. In second half stoppage time, a few minutes after Kellyn Acosta gave way for Harold Osorio, giving the Fire II mainstay his first-team debut, the Fire were unable to clear the ball following a D.C. corner. Aaron Herrera played a cross to Jacob Murrell at the right side of the box. Murrell, in a crowd, parried an incredible bicycle kick to the far side of the Fire net, past Brady who was unable to get a hand on it, tying the game at the last kick.
The result felt too familiar to Fire fans, who have too often seen draws snatched late from the jaws of victor. Speaking to reporters after the game, Berhalter didn’t mince words, saying “I think we could have been much better towards the end of the game,” concluding “What it’s about is being able to defend late in the game. And you know, tonight, we weren’t able to do that.”
The late goal, he said, was “kind of cruel … almost an impossible shot they end up making, because otherwise, it certainly was a Man of the Match-type performance for us.”
While the Fire can take heart from strong play, clearly growing into the game and becoming increasingly confident in their style, it sends the team on a three-game road trip still searching for their first win. Next up is FC Dallas, marking the first time since 2022 that the Brimstone Cup, inaugurated early in MLS history between the Fire and the then-Dallas Burn, will be contested.
Lineup and Player Ratings
Chicago Fire Starting XI (4-3-3): Brady (9), Gutman (7.5), Rogers (5), Elliott (8), Dean (7.5), Acosta (6), Oregel (6), Williams (6.5), Bamba (7.5), Cuypers (9), Zinckernagel (8) Chicago Fire Substitutes: Omari Glasgow (7.5), Tom Barlow (6), Mauricio Pineda (NR), Omar González (NR), Harold Osorio (NR) Chicago Fire Head Coach: Berhalter (6.5)
