Chicago Fire FC (8-10-8, 32 points) fell 1-0 to Western Conference rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10-8-7, 37 points) on Wednesday night at Soldier Field.
Despite the loss, the Fire held its place above the playoff line with 32 points, ahead of D.C. United and Charlotte FC who have 30 points each.
Chicago had several chances in the opening 20 minutes, including a 10th minute attempt by Kei Kamara that the goalkeeper deflected over the crossbar. In the 18th minute, it was once again Kamara with an attempt, as he hit a half-volley over the crossbar on a pass from Xherdan Shaqiri.
Vancouver struck first, however, with a 19th minute goal from Brian White. Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady was able to slightly slow the attempt and eventually hold onto it, but the referee ruled that the ball had already crossed over the goal line on the bounce.
The second half was an even affair, with the Fire having 61 percent of the possession and taking 10 shots. The Fire had a few clear opportunities, notably in the 78th minute when Arnaud Souquet and Shaqiri combined several times as they carried the ball into the right side of the 18-yard-box, but Shaqiri’s shot went straight to Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. Ten minutes later, in the 88th minute, Carlos Terán sent a long throw-in into the box where Kei Kamara flicked a header on goal, but Takaoka once again made the save.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago travels to Washington D.C. to face D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, Sept. 2 before entering an international break. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast live on Apple TV, streamed in English on wlsam.com and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Notes:
- Striker Kei Kamara played in his 414th MLS career match, surpassing Chris Wondolowski for fourth place on the all-time appearance list.
- Defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda played in his 100th Major League Soccer match, becoming the first Homegrown player in Club history to play in 100 regular season matches for the Fire.
- Ivorian midfielder Ousmane Doumbia and Argentine midfielder Federico Navarro started together for the first time as Chicago Fire teammates.
- Maren Haile-Selassi, Xherdan Shaqiri and Brian Gutiérrez started together once again for the ninth time in the 2023 MLS regular season, and the 11th time overall this year.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady returned to the starting lineup for the 22nd time during the 2023 MLS regular season, and 25th time overall.
- Midfielders Gastón Giménez (red card suspension), Chris Mueller (right upper leg) and Javier Casas Jr. (right lower leg), and forward Victor Bezerra (right lower leg) were not available for tonight’s match.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 0:1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Goals:
VAN - White (10) (Gauld, 7) (WATCH) 19’
Discipline:
VAN - Brown (Yellow Card) 58’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Terán, D Pineda (Souquet, 46’), D Czichos (capt.), D M. Navarro, M Haile-Selassie (Torres, 65’), M F. Navarro, M Doumbia (Herbers, 65’), M Gutiérrez, M Shaqiri (Koutsias, 78’), F Kamara
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Dean, D Omsberg, D Aceves, F Przybyłko
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: GK Takaoka, D Blackmon, D Veselinovic, D Brown, D Ahmed (Schöpf, 60’), M Berhalter, M Raposo (M Ngando, 79’), M Vite, M Laryea (Adekugbe, 68’), F White (F Córdova, 78’), F Gauld (capt.)
Subs not used: GK Boehmer, D Laborda, M Teibert, F Johnson, F Becher
Stats Summary: CHI / VAN
Shots: 14 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 4 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 85.4% / 85.8%
Corners: 4 / 5
Fouls: 13 / 14
Offsides: 0 / 1
Possession: 53.4% / 46.6%
Attendance: 9,187
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: Jon Freemon
VAR: Geoff Gamble
Assistant VAR: Robert Schaap
Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Frank Klopas
On the success of a three-man backline...
"Well, we've played before with three in the back. They're playing with two forwards, so normally we build always with three in the back. So, I think with their movement, I felt we'd give us better cover, whether it's a line of three, a line of five at times. So, I think that was the main idea. Plus, it gives us an opportunity to build right away with three players out of the back against the two. And then we have both midfielders in the middle in a good position; three plus two and we can push our wingbacks higher. And basically, we just tried to match what they were, you know, them against the two forwards."
On what went wrong in the first half...
"No, I just don't think we were in any rhythm, you know? I felt that we never got in a rhythm. We worked on depending how they were pressing us and realizing where the pressure was coming from and then obviously trying to exploit the space that they were leaving. We weren't sharp with the ball. You know, we got in some good spots, maybe three times, we were able to break the two and then the line of five that they had, and you know, we were going against their backline and then again, sometimes, there are moments where you can finish chances but I think we never got in a rhythm.
I think their movement, really, with the two front runners going against the three, they got behind us. We never really pushed with the two central midfielders to put pressure on their six at the right moments, and then we were going at times too much on our own. So, you know, if you do that, I think the gaps got a little too big and they're able to exploit that in the first half. And then obviously we made changes, with the change in the second half, and then I felt that we got more in a rhythm."
On Kei Kamara's role and playing the full 90 minutes...
"Yeah, he looked like he was working hard to me. So, I just think when you need to find a goal, it's a little bit different because he's a presence in the box, you know? We got some overloads out wide, we were just, our quality in our service just wasn't on, our ability to clear the first guy. I mean, if you look at just stats and stuff like that, I mean, we got into the box a lot more times than they did. But then it's just the final pass has to be a little bit better.
So, you know, he was working hard. He's always a presence in the box. And then, you know, we tried to get Koutsias in there out wide. Obviously, you know, just tried to put guys on that I felt that could get us back into the game – taking risks at the right moment and pushing guys forward. Tried to find the right balance with guys that, you know, because there's always the threat, you know, you don't want to give up that second goal. So, with the one – we were always in it, it's just we didn't do well enough again in getting in good spots, whether that's the final pass or just hitting the back of the neck, you know?"
On Xherdan Shaqiri's early exit...
"No, I felt, you know, he asked to come out, you know? So, I didn't know if he was feeling something. We'll have to evaluate because he made that run right before he came out, he was signaling to the side. So, I don't know if he was getting tired, that something was going on with his body but mainly, that's why he came out. We were going to take another player out and bring [Georgios] Koutsias in. But then right before that, you know, we saw him signaling to the sideline that he needed to come out."
Chicago Fire FC Goalkeeper Chris Brady
On his thoughts about saving the goal that was conceded…
“For me, looking back, it kind of caught me off guard with the way I was positioned and two people kind of sliding at me. It’s hard to track the ball. But I think when I get that initial hand to it, first and foremost, it just needs to be a stronger hand. But then I did well to recover, or at least, I think so. Unfortunately, this league and stadium doesn't allow for better camera angles. So when the ref went to look at it on VAR, what he saw was some very poor angles, you can go watch that yourself. But it’s unfortunate, we don't have goal line technology because that's one I want back and I'm sure I'd get back. But, us as a defense, me personally. We want that one back.”
On whether he wished he would have come off his line sooner or if it was a reactionary situation…
“For me, the player coming in who crossed the ball was too close for me to intercept. So for me, it's just open up that first half of the goal that's mine to cover and I think I was leaning a little more near post, which is why my hand was dangling. But that's just detail-stuff. Just, open up, quicker reaction is the bottom line.”
On the message in the locker room and the mentality going into the away game against D.C. United…
“Yeah, it was just to have a bounce-back memory. Making sure that we're putting this game behind us as quickly as possible and, tomorrow, coming in with energy and more liveliness for this weekend. It's always tough to lose at home but, you gotta have a short memory, like I said, and we're eager to get on the road. It's good that we have so many games so quickly, because for an unfortunate result like tonight, the first thing you want to do is get back out there and play. So having a game on Saturday really helps.”