Fire goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, who missed the last game due to injury, earned Heineken Man of the Match honors. He recorded three saves, including one in the first minute of play and two from close range. Shuttleworth recorded his second shutout with the Fire, both versus Cincinnati. It was the 43rd clean sheet of his MLS career.
It looked like Chicago would pull ahead in the 70th minute but Ignacio Aliseda’s goal was called back after referee Marcos DeOliveira reviewed the play and VAR determined there was a handball by Fire defender Boris Sekulić in the lead-up to the goal.
The Fire, who controlled the game in the second half, weren’t able to match the scoring prowess the Club showed eight days earlier in a 3-0 defeat of Cincinnati in their home opener at Soldier Field on August 25.
Cincinnati haven't scored a goal in phase one of the revised 2020 MLS regular season. It was their third 0-0 draw in the past four matches. Tonight they were led by Kendall Waston, the Costa Rican international center back. The hulking defender won aerial duels throughout the game and even blocked Djordje Mihailović’s free kick in second-half stoppage time from his position in the defensive wall.
Next on the schedule: Chicago Fire FC will play its second home game of the year, hosting the New England Revolution at Soldier Field on Sunday, Sept. 6. The 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 105.1 WOJO-HD2. The pregame show, presented by CIBC, will begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Notes:
- In Wednesday’s match, the Fire wore a ‘Frontline Heroes’ patch to show appreciation for Chicago’s medical personnel and essential workers for their service throughout the pandemic. The patch is part of the 2020 ‘Stand for Chicago’ patch series in which the Fire sport custom-designed patches on the jocktag location of the team’s jerseys. For more information on the series, click here.
- 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. Captain Francisco Calvo wore a captain’s armband that represents Kick Childhood Cancer, and player jerseys featured a yellow ribbon patch.
- In previous matches, Calvo wore a captain’s armband that represents the Black Lives Matter movement. The armband was designed by Chicago-based artist and former Northwestern student-athlete Dwight White. For more information on the design, click here. Calvo has worn the captain’s armband in all nine games this season.
- Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth earned Heineken Man of the Match honors as he returned to the starting lineup after missing Saturday’s match against New York City FC with an injury. Shuttleworth recorded three saves in tonight’s match.
- Chicago Fire FC is the only team to score versus FC Cincinnati in the past four matches (3-0 win at Soldier Field on August 25).
Key attacking plays:
CHI - Miguel Navarro 18th minute (WATCH): Miguel Navarro collected a pass from Przemysław Frankowski and took a left-footed shot from distance that went slightly wide of the net.
CHI - Robert Berić 36th minute (WATCH): Miguel Navarro sent a ball in from the left side that pinballed from midfielder Álvaro Medrán to Berić, narrowly missing the net.
CHI - Ignacio Aliseda 70th minute: Ignacio Aliseda had a goal called back after being reviewed by VAR. Second-half sub Elliot Collier received a ball on the right side from Boris Sekulić, who was later ruled to have touched the ball when he slipped on the turf. Collier passed it inside for Aliseda, who took a couple of calm touches before sending it into the back of the net with his left foot.
Stops and key defensive plays:
CHI - Bobby Shuttleworth 1st minute (WATCH): Haris Medunjanin served a set piece to Maikel van der Werff at the far post. The Dutch defender’s header was saved by a diving Shuttleworth.
CHI - Bobby Shuttleworth 28th minute (WATCH): Frenchman Adrien Regattin let go a right-footed long-range effort that was parried away by Shuttleworth.
CHI - Bobby Shuttleworth 55th minute (WATCH): Medunjanin sent a ball through the Fire backline to forward Jurgen Locadia. The Dutch forward turned and got off a right-footed shot, but Shuttleworth was there to make the close-range save with his right shoulder.
Box score:
FC Cincinnati 0:0 Chicago Fire FC
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
FCC - Deplagne (Caution) 90+6’
CHI - Bornstein (Caution) 90+7’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Shuttleworth, D Sekulić, D Pineda (D Omsberg, 90+2’), D Calvo ©, D Navarro (D Bornstein, 62’), M Frankowski (F Collier, 62’), M Giménez, M Medrán, M Aliseda, M Herbers (M Mihailović, 62’), F Berić
Subs not used: GK Sparrow, M Azira, D Bronico, M Gutiérrez, D Reynolds II
Shots: 13 Shots on goal: 1 Fouls: 17 Offsides: 0 Corners: 6 Possession: 48.0%
FC Cincinnati: GK Tyton, D Waston ©, D Garza (D Gutman, 76’), D Deplagne, D van der Werff, M Medunjanin (M Stanko, 86’), M de Jong (M Kubo, 63), M Amaya, F Regattin (F Cruz, 63’), F Locadia, F Gyau
Subs not used: GK Edwards, D Petterson, D Hagglund, D Bailey, F Vazquez
Shots: 8 Shots on goal: 3 Fouls: 12 Offsides: 3 Corners: 2 Possession: 52.0%
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira
Assistant Referees: Peter Manikowski, Jeffrey Swartzel
Fourth Official: Ismir Pekmic
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Chicago Fire FC Quotes
Chicago Fire Head Coach Raphael Wicky
On the team’s slow start in the game…
“Yeah, you're right I think we started a bit slow. It's not an easy place to play here as you guys all know. No one really scores here much. No one really wins here. They are very tough to play in their 5-3-2, we knew that so we started a bit slow and then we actually had to fight into the game which was very, very positive and we actually fought ourselves into the game.”
“Yeah, look, we tried to build the team. We tried to find some consistency. So we started with the same team besides with Bobby (Shuttleworth), which played in New York, but yeah, I felt some guys had a little bit of heavy legs which is normal after all these games and the subs came in very, very well. I'm very pleased with Jonny (Bornstein), Djordje (Mihailović), Elliot (Collier) and also Wyatt (Omsberg), who came in very late in the game which is not easy. That's what we need. We need guys who can come in, who can take the role of the teammate and the level doesn't drop. I think that's what we have seen today, they brought in good energy, positive energy and that's what we need.”
On whether the foul against Robert Berić should have been a penalty…
“I haven't seen it. From where I stood, I said it was a penalty. If it would have been against us, I probably would have said no. I cannot judge (the call), obviously. I have to watch it. But with VAR, they checked it so we have to trust the referees and take the decision. From my view, I couldn't really tell.”
On whether the team plays differently on turf than on grass…
“Yeah, of course we all know that it's a completely different game but we didn't train on turf. So maybe also that can be a reason why we started a bit slow. I don't know. But it is a different game, yeah. If you play on grass, it's completely different football than when you play on turf. Everyone knows that. The ball, you have to be very precise. The ball bounces differently. Then this turf is quite an old turf so there is, obviously, the newer turfs are better, different, but it is what it is. We have to adapt and we have to play on turf. In Seattle we had to play on turf and in New England, that's what it is, there are stadiums like that. The guys adapted well after a while and fought themselves into the game.”
Chicago Fire FC Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth
On how much confidence it gave him to make an early save…
“Yeah, I think we switched off a bit and in the first couple minutes that's not something that can happen and obviously we'll have to go over that and make sure it's corrected for the next game. In terms of confidence, it's nice always to get an early touch and make a big save when you need to, but that's why I'm there. I'm there to try and make saves.”
On the defense’s performance…
“Yeah, I think we did pretty well. We grinded. You know, any time you're on the road in this league, it's going to be difficult. They made things tough for us at times and moved the ball well. I think we got into blocks and defended and dug in when we needed to. But obviously there's things that we need to improve on, and you know, we need to go over this video and we need to try to keep improving on those things hopefully for Sunday.”
On the difference between play in the first half and the second half…
“I mean, I think at times, there were times where we built up well in both halves. There were times when we needed to dig in defensively in both halves. I think we created a little bit more probably in the first half but I think there were chances on both sides and a 0-0 draw is probably a fair result.”
Chicago Fire FC Midfielder Gastón Giménez
On his comfort level and understanding with teammates after several games with the team…
“Yeah, we have played several games together and we are feeling more comfortable together. We are starting to understand each other better. We are finding ways to play together more cohesively. We are starting to understand better what the coach is asking of us.”
“Yeah, there are things -- each time we're playing a little bit better, but there are things that we can adjust, that we can correct. Little by little, we're going to get there. Defensively, we're starting to understand each other better. Today thankfully it was 0-0. It was a very important point for us, and so now we just have to keep adjusting, keep working together and start getting points.”
On whether the point on the road was a good result…
“We always are looking to get the three points. We're always trying to win. Of course, we knew that coming into this game, we had -- we were coming off a loss. So it was important to come in and try to get the three points, but even so, we need to earn points and getting the point here was important. So getting the points and earning points is what we're trying to do, and that's what is important for us.”
On whether the team had more energy and attacking chances after making the substitutions…
“Yes, the subs came in really strong. We needed that freshness. We needed them to come in and each one of them, you know, came in -- especially with so many games back-to-back every three days, it's important that our subs come in and bring in that freshness and that they come in ready to play, and today they certainly showed that they are ready to play and that's what we need, everyone, you know, coming in and demonstrating that they are ready, we are all ready, we are all competitive, and coming in and bringing in that energy.”