Out-classed: Philadelphia Union 4, Chicago Fire 0
CHESTER, Penn. – The playing conditions were perfect during a warm summer night in Chester, but the Chicago Fire’s nine-year losing streak in Philadelphia continued, with a 4-0 loss against the Union.
The Fire had been looking to build on their five-game unbeaten run and thrilling 3-2 win against St. Louis last week, and were forced into just one lineup change. Defender Carlos Terán left the team on Tuesday, so 17-year-old homegrown Christopher Cupps came in for his third career MLS start and first since an injury in early June.
The game started very poorly for the Fire, with two counters from Philadelphia representing what should have been at least a one-goal lead in the first few minutes. The pressure from the home team was maintained throughout most of the first 20-25 minutes, after which the Men in Red settled into the match and slowly got more comfortable on the ball.
Nobody looked truly comfortable out of possession for the Fire until the 30th minute, at which point the Union was back with consistent possession, pinning all ten players into Chicago’s half. The pressure eventually led to an overlap down the left from Kai Wagner, who played a cross to the front post, where Tai Baribo was waiting to tap it between Chris Brady’s legs. The first goal in today’s match marked Baribo’s 16th of the season, keeping him as the third-highest scorer in MLS.
At halftime, Jonathan Dean was introduced in place of Leonardo Barroso, who was the sole Fire player booked in the first half. To start the second 45, it was much of the same. The momentum was in clear favor of the Union going into the 60th minute, despite the occasional Fire effort, such as a Sergio Oregel rocket off the left post. A careless foul in the 62nd by Djé D’Avilla just outside the box handed the Union a perfect opportunity, which they took advantage of, executing a set piece routine perfectly with Kai Wagner placing it in the bottom right corner of Brady’s net.
At the 70-minute mark, summer signing André Franco entered for his debut for the Fire, but the game would not get any easier, with the chippy and unnecessary fouls increasing in frequency. Not even five minutes later, the outcome was practically decided after a long attacking possession sequence from the Union ended in a cross in from the right, dropping at the penalty area and being put in the back of the net through a crowd of players by Danley Jean Jacques.
With the game pretty much out of reach, the Fire conceded yet another goal at the 80th-minute mark, this time a blocked clearance from Cupps getting caught perfectly by Milan Iloski via a rocket into the bottom left corner. Chris Brady was caught as still as a statue.
Though the debut of Franco was a highlight, and he had some good movement in the middle, connecting with players like Kellyn Acosta and Brian Gutiérrez, the final score of 4-0 represents one of the performances to forget for Chicago this season.
After a two-week break, the Fire will return home to face New England on September 6th.
Player Ratings
Starting XI (4-3-3) — Brady (6); Gutman (5), Elliott (3.5), Cupps (7), Barroso (5); D'Avilla (5.5), Oregel (6), Gutiérrez (6.5); Bamba (5), Zinckernagel (4.5), Cuypers (4)
Substitutes — Dean (5), Franco (5.5), Haile-Selassie (5.5), Acosta (7), Barlow (NR)
