4-3-3 isn’t just a football formation: Goals from four different offensive players -- Designated Player Robert Berić, Fabian Herbers, Alvaro Medrán and CJ Sapong -- and the third clean sheet of the season for Bobby Shuttleworth secured three points for the Fire at home.
Chicago broke through in the 15th minute, as veteran defender Jonathan Bornstein served up a perfect cross to a streaking Berić. The Slovenian split the Dynamo center backs, redirecting the ball into the back of the net, earning his third goal in as many games (WATCH).
Eight minutes later, the Fire, who won the possession battle tonight 54-46, would capitalize again when Ignacio Aliseda played a sublime through ball to a hard-charging Herbers. The German slid and buried a right-footed shot past Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric to put the home side up 2-0 (WATCH).
In the 28th minute, the Dynamo were called for a penalty for a hand ball in the box by defender Maynor Figueroa. After checking the call with VAR, the penalty was overturned (WATCH).
The third goal of the half would come from an incredible individual effort from Medrán. The Spaniard secured a turnover behind the midfield line and, with two defenders daped on his back, dribbled his way towards the Houston goal. He drilled a shot to the far post for his second goal of the season (WATCH).
Two minutes after Medran scored, midfielder Djordje Mihailovic’s powerful right-footed shot from distance beat Maric but the goal was called back for offside.
The final goal of the match would come in the 89th minute when CJ Sapong converted from the penalty spot after the forward was pulled down in the box (WATCH). The Fire were awarded a second penalty kick after Maric saved the first attempt by illegally coming off his line early.
Next on the schedule: Chicago Fire FC will return to Soldier Field on Sunday, Sept. 27 when the Club hosts Atlanta United FC. On Wednesday night, a penalty kick from former Fire player Jeff Larentowicz proved decisive as Atlanta snapped a six-game winless skid, edging out FC Dallas 1-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Sunday’s match will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on WGN-TV and ESPN+ and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200AM. The pregame show, presented by CIBC, will begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
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Notes:
- The four goal victory marks the Fire’s largest margin of victory in 2020.
- Berić scored for the third straight game. He leads the team in goals (5).
- Herbers notched his third goal of the season. All three goals have come on the lakefront at Soldier Field.
- Sapong scored his first goal of 2020 after finishing the penalty kick he earned after getting fouled in the box. The goal was Sapong’s 70th in his 10-year career (four years with Sporting KC, four years with Philadelphia Union, second year with the Fire). Sapong’s goal celebration was a nod to his newborn daughter.
- Bornstein, who made his first start since July 23, earned his first assist of 2020 on Beric’s goal.
- Medrán earned Heineken Man of the Match honors. The midfielder scored a sensational goal on a solo effort from behind the midfield line to earn his second goal of the season.
- For the first time in MLS history, 13 midweek games are being played on the same night. All 26 teams are in action.
- Shuttleworth secured the 44th clean sheet of his MLS career.
- Chicago Fire FC has teamed up with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Ronald McDonald House Charities during the month of September to bring awareness to Kick Childhood Cancer. Player jerseys featured a yellow ribbon patch that represents Kick Childhood Cancer.
- Game highlights can be viewed here.
- Every Fire broadcast starts with an original video, The Open. Tonight’s version, “A Family Affair,” featured long-time Fire supporter Don Crafts. You can watch it here.
Goals:
CHI - Robert Berić 15th minute (WATCH)
CHI - Fabian Herbers 23rd minute (WATCH)
CHI - Alvaro Medrán 40th minute (WATCH)
CHI - CJ Sapong 89th minute (WATCH)
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 4:0 Houston Dynamo
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Berić (5) (Bornstein 1) 15’
CHI - Herbers (3) (Aliseda 2) 23’
CHI - Medrán (2) 40’
CHI - Sapong (1) (PK) 89’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Pineda (Caution) 63’
CHI - Shuttleworth (Caution) 70’
HOU - Lassiter (Caution) 83’
HOU - Struna (Caution) 87’
HOU - Maric (Caution) 89’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Shuttleworth, D Sekulić, D Pineda, D Calvo ©, D Bornstein (D Navarro 74’), M Mihailović (M Collier 63’), M Giménez, M Medrán (D Bronico 74’), M Aliseda, M Herbers (M Azira 87’), F Berić (F Sapong 74’)
Subs not used: GK Slonina, M Gutiérrez, D Omsberg, D Reynolds II
Houston Dynamo: GK Maric, D Lundkvist, D Struna, D Figueroa, D Bizama, M Rodriguez (F Lemoine HT), M Hansen (F Lassiter HT), M Vera © (M Garcia HT), M Ceren (M Martinez 78’), F Ramirez, F Quintero (F Manotas 64’)
Subs not used: GK Cropper, D Fuenmayor, D Valentin, D Cabrera
Stats Summary: CHI / HOU
Shots: 16 / 7
Shots on Target: 9 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corners: 2 / 5
Fouls: 14 / 15
Offsides: 1 / 3
Possession 54% / 46%
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
Assistant Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Peter Manikowski
Fourth Official: Ismir Pekmic
VAR: David Gantar
Chicago Fire FC Quotes
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Raphael Wicky
On the win giving the team more confidence going forward…
“I was very, very happy about the way we played and obviously the result following it, finally. Results always give confidence to players; at the end of today, you get confidence. But I also liked that the team actually didn't lose confidence from the last result, which didn't go our way, so that was very positive. Like I said, it gives confidence, the players rewarded themselves for the whole work they put in every day, they put in in the games, and actually today, rewarded themselves with scoring goals and not conceding goals, not making easy mistakes, not giving up easy chances. So that's good. Now, look, they have to enjoy this tonight, they should enjoy this, then from tomorrow on, we prepare (for) the next game, that's how it is."
On the field conditions at Soldier Field…
"The playing surface was actually good. I think they did a really good job after the (Chicago) Bears played. We were happy with the playing surface and it was good that the field was a little bit wet; obviously when it's wet, the ball always rolls a little bit faster, so I'm very happy with that. They can leave it every time like that, we won 4-0."
On the decision to play Ignacio Aliseda out wide…
"Yeah, it was a thought from me and my staff. Obviously, when you can find Nacho (Ignacio Aliseda) isolated out wide, he can hurt a lot of teams. He's good in 1v1, he's pace-full, but he's also good when he (comes) in from a wide area, coming inside into the half spaces. So he did that really well in a lot of moments in this game. He actually worked well also defensively. The other point is, I wanted one extra midfielder there with Fabi Herbers underneath Robert, which gave us a lot. We know what Fabi gives us, but also not only with the ball, but also defensively, Fabi helped Álvaro and Gastón to actually close the center better than in the previous games."
On if this was the team’s best 90-minute performance of the season…
"Yeah, I think so. I think, in general, it was a really, really good performance, it was a mature performance. I knew that going into the second half, we can't expect to see the same half as the first half. I mean, the first half was almost perfect. I think Houston didn't really have much going forward. We were really aggressive, well organized, we were really good with the ball, we had chances to score even more than three goals. So that was basically the perfect half and you can't expect to have the same half again. But I was very happy with the way the team managed the second half: not giving up chances, not giving up, still looking for the third goal, having a little bit less possession, that's not what we wanted, but then, having a clean sheet and being very matured and well organized. So yeah, that was a really good performance today."
Chicago Fire FC Defender Francisco Calvo
On the win giving the team more confidence going forward and the playing surface at Soldier Field…
“I'm going to answer the second question first, the field was really good. We are happy to play at Soldier Field. The first one. I think it's a great result, (before tonight) we were not the worst team, now we are not the best. We are just an honest team, always trying to win, always want to perform well. Sometimes things don’t go our way. We’re just going to keep the momentum. On Sunday we have another big game at home. We're gonna get three points, we've got to make (things) better at home, we're not going to drop any more points at home, hopefully. So (we) just have to be humble. The things are going to come if we just work and we commit.”
On building on tonight’s win...
“It is because of the result. You know, sometimes the results are not through. Sometimes we lost, and we played really good. Just because we lost 2-0, you guys think that we play really bad. No, because then you go and watch the videos, and you can watch the game and maybe you manage the game really well. You have a lot of opportunities and that's why I say: we were not the worst team before, now we are not the best. We just know what we do. We always try to perform well, we always try to get the win. Sometimes it doesn’t go our way. Now we have to enjoy the moment, we're happy to win. Enjoy tonight. And then set our minds on Sunday again.”
On the differences between playing with Jonathan Bornstein and Miguel Navarro…
Miguel is a young guy with energy. He knows the position really well. He can play left winger too. Johnny has a lot of experience. Johnny knows the role, Johnny knows the position really well. I feel really comfortable with both. They both communicate really well, and both are really great players, I mean, they really helped the team in those kinds of moments. And when Rapha makes the decision, I'm happy with both because both really work hard and play well.
On who he dedicates the victory to…
I dedicate the victory, first of all, to God, and then to my family who is here in Chicago, to my son, my mom and my brother. And to this group, who I think deserved a win like this. I think that the group deserved to be able to sleep well, to be able to smile, because we have been playing well and things haven’t been going so well but we hope that from now on we’ll get ahead.
On whether Houston was unable to contain the Fire in the middle of the field…
“Let’s see. I think that in the first half we played a spectacular first half. We pressured them, we played well toe-to-toe, we played out from the back, we scored the goals. We scored three goals. It was good. The first half was very good. The second half, your legs start to get a little heavy, but we still managed well, we had opportunities, we scored the penalty. Houston is a very respectable team. Houston is a team with very good players. Today, thankfully things went well for us and, as I said before, we’ll enjoy tonight and tomorrow we’ll put our mind on Atlanta for Sunday.”
Chicago Fire FC Forward Fabian Herbers
On scoring all three of his goals this season at Soldier Field...
“I mean it's just a great stadium, great field, great team effort. Overall, I think it's credit to the team that after those tough results in the past, we come back strong like this and then we actually show what we're capable of, you know, when we play well. When we finish our chances offensively and when we stay compact and don't give up easy chances defensively. And I like this place. Scored again, happy about that, but more happy about the three points and we just got to keep it going now in the next game against Atlanta as well.”
On being able to get consistent results and building off tonight…
“Yeah I mean I’d rather win four times 1-0, than then one time 4-0. But now we got to keep it going, the momentum was good, I think, like I said we showed what the team is capable of if we stay engaged, and stay positive, with good energy on the field and be better on both ends of the field. I think we can get another three points against Atlanta and then we can really make a playoff push in the last final games, final nine games that we have in the season. So hopefully we can keep this going against Atlanta and then get another three points there. That's the objective.”
On playing different positions this season and if he has a favorite position...
“I like this position very well. I don't have a favorite position. I think every position has its ups and downs kind of. But in this particular position, the number 10 role, I think I communicate well with the forwards, with Beric on how to press, and then defensively Rapha asked me when we're under pressure to help defensively as well. To come in as an aid and help Gaston and Alvaro defensively to close the midfield and I think on both ends of the field it worked well. I certainly think the team overall had a good performance and I'm happy to play in that position as well.”
On what he’s expecting against Atlanta…
“To be honest, we haven't analyzed anything on Atlanta yet. We sort of solely focused on Houston. Haven't watched too many matches, but I think we'll prepare during the week, watch some video on Atlanta. I mean the next game is in four days. So, yeah, we'll analyze that. I can't tell you too much about Atlanta but we’ll try to keep the same style. You know I think we played very attractive football, especially in the first half today, scored four good goals, one unfortunately was called off. And even if we get the handball in the box, we could have been up 5-0 in the first half, you know, which is an impressive performance against a good Houston side. So, overall, we prepare and try to play the same style against Atlanta.”