The Fire’s goals were scored by midfielders Aleksandar Katai and Fabian Herbers. Chicago will close out its regular season on Sunday, Oct. 6 against Orlando City SC in Orlando, Fla.
The first chance of the match came in favor of the visitors, as Fire goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm was called into action in the 13th minute. Anticipating a dangerous ball to forward Jozy Altidore, Kronholm came charging off his line to deny the striker’s shot from close range.
Three minutes later, Chicago responded with its own opportunity to score when defender Francisco Calvo got on the end of midfielder Nicolás Gaitán’s bending corner kick and powered a header on target that was saved by goalkeeper Quentin Westberg. In the 20th minute, Gaitán created another opportunity when he drove the ball through the 18-yard box for forward Nemanja Nikolić, who redirected the cross just wide of the far corner.
In the 27th minute, the Men in Red continued to pressure Toronto deep in its own half and came within inches of scoring. After a bad turnover by Toronto, a pass from forward CJ Sapong found midfielder Przemysław Frankowski, who redirected an attempt that rattled off the post before being cleared away.
Moments later, in the 33rd minute, Kronholm was called upon to make another crucial save. As a dangerous corner kick came into the box, defender Omar Gonzalez nodded a strong header on target that required an acrobatic save by the diving German-American goalkeeper.
After an end-to-end first half, both teams entered the break level at 0-0. The Fire led TFC in shots (9-4) and shots on target (3-2) at the half.
Less than 15 minutes into the second half, Toronto managed to score against the run of play when Altidore got behind the Fire defenders and beat Kronhom through the legs from just inside the 18-yard box in the 59th minute.
Head Coach Veljko Paunović then made a double substitution, bringing on midfielders Aleksandar Katai and Fabian Herbers for Brandt Bronico and CJ Sapong. The Fire saw an immediate impact. Moments after entering the field, Katai dribbled past his defender and played a piercing ball through the six-yard box. Nikolić slid and knocked it on target, but Westberg managed to make a point-blank save with his feet.
Just three minutes later, the Serbian winger would find the back of the net to bring the Fire level. Receiving a through ball from Frankowski on the break, Katai carried the ball into the box and fired a left-footed shot into the goal, tallying his fifth of the season. Additionally, Frankowski recorded his ninth assist of the season on the play, which ranks as the second-most on the team.
Gaining momentum from Katai’s goal, the Fire found their second goal less than 10 minutes later when Herbers scored his third of the season. Receiving a short corner from Frankowski, Gaitán curled the ball into the 18-yard box for Herbers, who carefully flicked his header into the far corner in the 77th minute.
In the 80th minute, Toronto FC found the game-tying goal when defender Omar Gonzalez scored off a corner kick, sending a powerful header into the top corner.
With the 2-2 result, the Fire were eliminated from qualifying for the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. Chicago will play its final match of the 2019 regular season against Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 6. Scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN Radio Chicago 1200 AM.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire 2:2 Toronto FC
Scoring Summary:
TOR – Altidore (11) (Delgado 7) 59’
CHI – Katai (5) (Frankowski 9) 68’
CHI – Herbers (3) (Gaitán 12) 77’
TOR – Gonzalez (1) (Pozuelo 12) 80’
Misconduct Summary:
TOR – Delgado (Caution) 71’
CHI – Gaitán (Caution) 85’
Chicago Fire: GK Kronholm, D Kappelhof, D Schweinsteiger, D Calvo, D Bornstein, M McCarty©, M Bronico (Katai 63’), M Frankowski, M Gaitán, M Sapong (Herbers 64’), F Nikolić
Subs not used: Sánchez, Marcelo, Gutjahr, Azira, Mihailović
Shots: 15 Shots on goal: 7 Fouls: 10 Offsides: 4 Corners: 4
Toronto FC: GK Westberg (Bono 75’), D Mavinga, D Auro, D Morrow, D Gonzalez, M Bradley ©, M Pozuelo, M Osorio, M Delgado, M Endoh (DeLeon 68’), F Altidore (Mullins 64’)
Subs not used: Morgan, Ciman, Benezet, Gallardo
Shots: 11 Shots on goal: 4 Fouls: 9 Offsides: 1 Corners: 6
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Cladiu Badea
Fourth Official: Elvis Osmanovic
VAR: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 17,748
Chicago Fire Head Coach Veljko Paunović
On the team's emotions after the result…
"Disappointed, obviously. I think, today, one more game where we gave our best. That's something that, it was always there this season and in the years behind us. I think that's the first thing, a non-negotiable requirement to play for this team, and I think on that side, we did a good job. And I think today we also showed pride. In the second half, we came back after negative result and it was shown once again. And then, yeah, very disappointed because I think we could have, even if the other results didn't come our way, winning the last game at home in front of our fans. It was a memorable day for everyone to get that win, so disappointed for that too. But again, when you look back and when you see the guys fighting like lions in this game and every game, you know, you just have to give them a big hug and thank them and on the other side. Same on the whole staff, I think, the whole season was hard for us but that's what it is. So now, we're looking towards the next season, obviously. Well actually, we have to play one more game before we start looking more about what is coming. But this one game left, I think it's important for everyone to be professional, to respect everyone, respect the opponents, respect ourselves. I think we have to, more than being professional, we all play this sport because we love it, and you have to step on the field always wanting to win and giving your best, as I said before. And after that, we'll see. Obviously, there'll be time to discuss the future."
On the best memories in Bridgeview…
"Well, I think I have to reflect on these four years, definitely, to give you one good answer. But I think the warmth of the people of Bridgeview, always being at their disposal for the team and giving their best so we can feel at home here. I think that's the first feeling I can recall. But now that I'm talking about it, I think the game we played against Seattle, for me, in 2017, was a big game and (an) amazing win, when I felt that the crowd and the team kind of merged together and started to build a very good season."
On what the team can build on for next season…
"I think there is a very good understanding of our style. In the last two years, there were a lot of changes, so a lot of players who came and needed time to learn and to understand everything, basically. I'm talking about moving to another country, moving from one city to Chicago, which is an amazing city but you still have to get used to that magnitude of the city that it is. I think in the last two months, I felt that the team's playing, properly playing. I needed less to explain and to push the guys. So I think it was a moment where it's unfortunate to be, actually, where we are today. I was truly believing that we will get to the playoffs just because of what I saw in the last two months, how the team played and the atmosphere and the spirit and then also because I think there were good opportunities, it was just there. But I think in the future, this team can keep growing. I think we will have one more year under our belt, especially for the young players who had opportunity this year to play and then who have to be certain and solid support for the rest of the roster. And then for the guys who came from abroad, I think this year was a learning year for most of them. And as I said, we figured it out in the last two months. Again, it's a pity that our season just is going to end because the team was playing properly."
Chicago Fire Defender Bastian Schweinsteiger
On the team's emotions after facing elimination…
"We are disappointed that we didn't qualify for the playoffs. But still, I must say, this game kind of showed exactly how it was also through this season. We had very good opportunities. We brought the ball in very good spots. We didn't score the first goal and we lacked the whole season, actually on that. I think we were one of the teams who created the most chances and didn't convert them in goals. And if you want to win or you want to play playoffs, you need to score goals. We didn't do the best in that part of our game, but still, I must say, I see the team playing the last weeks also, how we defended, if we would have done that earlier, we would for sure play in the playoffs."
On if he was surprised that the team didn’t make the playoffs…
"Surprised. You know that I'm experienced and I know the game. I don't like the word surprised because some things are obvious, you know. It's just disappointing that we couldn't change this habit throughout the season. I'm sure everyone gave his best, but the question is always, how good is the best? And so, if I see how we played against a team like Toronto, or how we played against other teams like Atlanta or even LAFC, we're not worse than them in my eyes, but they are more consistent and they have maybe a little bit more goals."
On the potential of the team in Chicago…
"So I think, first of all, that the city of Chicago has a huge potential. I think it's great that Joe [Mansueto] got in that position as well. He wants to change, for sure, some things and of course, at Soldier Field, we're going to there next season. But you need to improve and for sure, not everything was ideal. I think that Joe is very smart and he will for sure make the right decisions."
Chicago Fire Midfielder Dax McCarty
On the disappointment of facing elimination…
"Yeah, very disappointing. We knew it was a little bit of a longshot but we still believed. I thought we, the last, I don't know, maybe seven or eight games, we've been in a pretty good run of form and we've been playing better. We've been getting some results to go our way. I think every time we got a positive result, we couldn't really follow it up with any momentum. We would win and then we'd have like a draw, maybe, couldn't ever string together two or three wins in a row to really give us that final push to make the playoffs. And so, we still believed, we knew New England had a pretty difficult run-in. They get the 98th minute equalizer in Portland, and then, they have the first place team in the East today and you have hope that NYC can get a result up there and then you hope it goes to the last day. Disappointing that it didn't work out. Obviously, we didn't do our job and get the win that we needed so I guess it doesn't really matter. But just, yeah, I'd say it's very disappointing to miss the playoffs again."
On the end of an era in Bridgeview…
"It's a little bittersweet, for sure. I have to mention the fans and I'd be remiss if I didn't at least give a shout-out to SeatGeek Stadium. I think it's been a wonderful host and a wonderful home for the Chicago Fire for a number of years. I think a lot of great memories here for Fire fans, a lot of great memories here for the players, obviously some not-so-great memories as well and that's just going to be part of the history of this club. The fans were unbelievable tonight, even with the Bears playing, we had, I don't know the numbers, but probably one of the best turnouts of the season. Weather was awful and they came out and it was probably the loudest I've heard the stadium all year.The fans wanted to send SeatGeek out on the right note and they did their jobs. Unfortunately, the players, we just came up a little bit short, wanted to send this stadium off with a win and make sure that we have that good memory of the stadium even if we didn't make the playoffs. But again, I think the story of the game is kind of the story of our season, right? Lot of opportunities kind of go by the wayside there and, you know, we can't quite close it out. Disappointing for sure but extremely humbled and appreciative of just the turnout that our fans had tonight."
Toronto FC Quotes
Toronto FC Head Coach Greg Vanney
On the match…
"It was wide open. I thought neither team did a great job of stopping the other team. It was very end to end, which meant there were a lot of chances, both teams had a lot of chances. It's something that can happen when you get around playoff time. It's when teams get a little bit desperate and they are willing to throw sort of caution to the wind and throw everything at it, especially towards the end of the game. It just gets very open. I thought for us, from our perspective, we rushed our attacks a little bit when we were getting into the attacking half of the field. We saw some spaces and opportunities to really go, and we went. For too many of them, we didn't get enough out of it. Then we end up opened up, because of the speed of our attacks, then we turn over the ball, then the transition speed that they were trying to get back at us, then again, it becomes disconnected. So, the game begins to become really wide open, that's really not what you want. For us, that's not really what we want ever, but for sure not in the seventh game in 23 days, and coming off a midweek game that was a lot of work. Having said that, we had our chances to try to get it. We were here to try to get three points. We want to try to adjust our position in the table if we could, but we weren't able to. Again, they have good players. Players who are very capable. When the game gets open, it's anybody's game. And tonight, I think it was a little of anybody's game."
On Quentin Westberg's injury…
"I think when he took the ball, and kind of went over the player's back, I think he landed awkward. It wasn't Q, but the doctor chose to take him off the field. That's the right of the home team doctor who represents the league in these situations and is checking the players. He recommended he come off the field so we had to use a sub on the goalkeeper, which doesn't help either when you're in a wide open game, you want all of those subs for players who are sprinting end to end."
On Omar Gonzalez's first goal of the season…
"It was for nice Omar to get on the [scoresheet], it was nice for Jozy to get on the back of the net-feel that again since it has been a few games for him. It's good for both of those guys. Again, just pleased we battled out and got a result and we kept this form of being difficult to beat. For that I am happy, again, it's little bit of execution, and for us as we go towards the playoffs, we don't want these games to look like this one did tonight where it's really, really end to end. That's something that we defensively and our possession, need to do a little bit better job of controlling the tempo of things."
On whether this unbeaten streak helps as Toronto heads to the playoffs…
"I think it's great just for the mentality for the group. In the past when we talked about this in 2017, the team's that tend to do the best in the playoffs are the teams who are doing the best in the final 10 games of the season. That's so far the only indicator in MLS of teams that do well in the playoffs. You want to go in with some level of confidence, you want to go in where you are really difficult to beat. For us, again just a little bit more execution in a few of these games and we would probably have more wins than draws out of those but at the same time, our group is very confident. We just worked through an incredible stretch of again, seven games in 23 days. So from a fitness standpoint, the rest this week will do us well but I think we are, you know, guys are fit, guys are healthy, guys are looking forward to the next stage."
On Marco Delgado's play tonight…
"I think Marky's just continuously game after game puts in an incredible shift of just covering ground at high speeds, running and closing defensively, keeping the ball moving fast for us, getting it off his feet, and to someone else's feet who is in a better position to attack. He is really a kind of facilitator for us of the game, and linking players to players, and just doing a lot of dogged work for us. We couldn't be more happy right now with just the form of Marky, and his field awareness but also his capacity to really do some real work out there for us. Oso is coming around at that level too. In the middle of the year, he wasn't feeling great physically and I think we pushed him to the limits this week, but he is showing that all of those energy levels are coming back. This is a great time for him."
On the message to the guys today regarding their playoff position…
"We just talked about the make up of this game, and what we need to take away from this game, just on a very basic level just because we will do more of that during the week. But just that. It's going to come down to the last day. We still have an opportunity at home to pick up three points and change our position in the standings. Maybe that includes a home game, maybe it doesn't, I don't know. We want to continue to be in the positive results category especially at home as we worked on this last game. We need to control our business and the rest will land where it lands."
Toronto FC Forward Jozy Altidore
On getting on the scoresheet tonight…
"It felt good. It was a long time coming. Felt nice. But the biggest thing is the result and we stayed unbeaten. That's the best. I think everybody's a bit, we want to get those three points and I think we put in the work. It's not falling for us, but we are unbeaten. I think the mentality has been good, and going into the playoffs you want this momentum, so we still have it and we feel good about it."
On the busy schedule the last few weeks and the team's performance…
"It was hard. I think midweek in that Montreal game, I think that was our lowest point. In terms of, not the result, but I don't think we were able to get in that next gear, that I think we have been able to do at home during the course of the year. I think that was the result of a lot of games, a lot of guys playing a lot of minutes. But still we won the game and obviously we lost on penalties but we won the game. That I think was the lowest point in terms of where we saw the games get to us, but I think tonight we bounced back really well. It's a tough place to come and they were desperate, they had to win, and they threw everything at us and we were still able to come out of here with a result."
On what they need to do this next weekend…
"We have to keep the momentum. Play a good game and win regardless of what is going on, regardless of where we finish, you just want to keep that winning mentality, that unbeaten mentality going into the playoffs where obviously it's a knockout, a lose or go home. We want that feeling of being unbeaten, and having that momentum. We have that right now.
Toronto FC Midfielder Michael Bradley
On the match…
"I thought we did some good things, I thought the mentality continues to be good and strong. Thought if we were a little smarter, a little better, a little sharper, that the opportunity was there to take three points. On one hand, disappointing to feel like you leave two points on the table. Again, the mentality was good, there were good stretches, and on the whole we were in a really good way. Just keep going and one more game to play next week, see how things shake out and then get ready for the playoffs."
On using a result like this to help the team during single elimination playoffs…
"That's always been the form in the playoffs. Find ways to make plays and in key moments make sure the mentality is strong, make sure that guys understand just in terms of intensity and commitment that everything has to come up a few notches and then go from there. I think in this last stretch we have done a good job with those things and again, we just got to keep going."
Toronto FC Goalkeeper Alex Bono
On making his 100th appearance…
"It means everything to me. It's been five years of, you know, this is kind of the first milestone that you hit, your personal milestone you hit. To mean it means everything. Obviously the situation, you never wish injury upon anybody, nor obviously on one of your teammates and one of the guys who you grind day in and day out with so I wish Q a speedy recovery. You never want to see that happen to somebody. But situationly, not great but at the end of the day, 100 appearances is 100 appearances. As a goalkeeper I feel it's a lot more difficult to get, you don't get to make a lot of sub appearances. I'm very proud, I am very honored that I've been able to do this for this club and hopefully 100 more."
On being ready mentally all the time…
"It's funny, before the game Pat was like, make sure you are ready. I'm like I am always ready. And he is like, 'yeah, yeah, you say that but make sure you are always ready.' And I was like, all right, you know, whatever, I am always ready, I told you that. But yea, it's a mentality thing more than anything. It's just kind of, you never know what's going to happen over the course of the game. To be ready and to be available even when it looks like we are about to make our third sub. It's a difficult role to play but it's one that's important for teams to have, you know. If something happens you're called upon in any position, it's important that you are ready to go."