The Chicago Fire looked primed to be the latest victim of the streaking New York Red Bulls, especially when the visitors scored the first goal on Wednesday night at Toyota Park. Rather than crumble though, the Fire responded and delivered a sorely-needed victory for the long-suffering Fire fans.
The Fire jumped out to a 2-1 lead, and then after seeing the Red Bulls score on a controversial equalizer, answered back with a game-winner from Kennedy Igboanike to earn a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.
Igboanike delivered two goals on the night, helping break down a Red Bulls defense that had only allowed three total goals in the team’s six previous matches combined.
The victory snapped a three-match winless streak for the Fire, keeping their faint playoff hopes alive. The three points didn’t pull them out of last place, but did pull them to within two points of sixth-place Montreal for the final playoff spot (though the Impact have three games in hand).
The loss dropped the Red Bulls out of range to catch East-leading D.C. United when the rivals face off on Sunday, though Jesse Marsch’s side can still pull to within two points with a victory (while still having two games in hand).
Igboanike scored the first and third goals for the Fire, torching the Red Bulls defense with a perfectly-timed run to race onto a pass from Gilberto to beat Luis Robles with a 22nd-minute finish.
Chicago’s first goal appeared to slow the Red Bulls down, and the visitors played some of the sloppiest soccer they’ve played in a good while. A Mike Grella turnover led directly to the Fire’s first goal, then Patrick Nyarko answered in the 41st minute when he wound up unmarked in front of goal before beating Robles to give the Fire the lead heading into halftime.
The Red Bulls responded after the break with a trick play on a corner kick that left the Fire fooled, but also apparently a rule broken. Lloyd Sam appeared to softly kick a corner kick, leaving it nearly in the same place before Sacha Kljestan walked over and proceeded to dribble the ball toward the center of the penalty area before he laid off a pass to a wide-open Ronald Zubar, who converted the finish to make the score 2-2 in the 49th minute.
The goal was allowed to stand, though officials from PRO, the official referee’s association, later released a statement clarifying that the Zubar goal should not have stood.
The Fire rendered the officiating error moot in the 73rd minute when Michael Stephens lofted a pass to David Accam down the left flank before Accam found a streaking Igboanike, who collected Accam’s pass and calmly finished for the winning goal.
The Fire will look to build some momentum this weekend, as they travel to Florida to take on Orlando City on Saturday. The Red Bulls return to action at Red Bull Arena on Sunday in a big Eastern Conference clash against D.C. United.
What did you think of the match? Impressed with the Fire? Surprised to see the Red Bulls perform so poorly?
Share your thoughts below.
The big question for me is why RBNY didn’t use their high pressing style? Could it be they were beat with athleticism?
This was the worst RBNY performance in a couple of months at least. They totally dominated the first ten minutes or so, got the opening goal, and then sat back and were dominated for 80 minutes by arguably the worst team in MLS. Absolutely terrible and if anything the scoreline was kind to them. They in no way even deserved a point. Hard to think of anyone who had a good game. SK and Robles (as usual) were good but that’s about it. Time to bounce back on Sunday night.
Worst game for RBNY in recent memory. Heavy reliance on long balls, sloppiness in the midfield (thanks, Felipe, for putting Grella in that dangerous position for the turnover), and — especially — defensive dysfunction at the back. I don’t know the specific reason, but since Zubar was the one new piece back there, I am tempted to blame him. I do know that when he had the ball he looked awkward and a step slow — a big, Olave-like CB but without the recovery speed. With likely call-ups coming for Miazga, Lawrence, and Ouimette, I fear that RBNY’s refusal to add some defensive depth this summer is going to hurt them.
I agree. I don’t think Zubar was particularly good although all four defenders had subpar games. Lade was awful. I was happy with the Veron signing (although he didn’t do much yesterday) but with TAM now available they could’ve paid down BWP’s salary to a below DP level cap hit and signed two more DPs, at least once of which should’ve been a defender. When I said this earlier, I was mocked and ridiculed because apparently I should’ve realized this team was so perfect it couldn’t be improved upon. But I think I was right. This team is still cheaping out. Maybe they’ll win anyway but ownership should not get a free pass.
I think that you will have to admit that the team has turned out to be better than you expected — you were seeing disaster, while some others were seeing perfection, when the truth was in between — but you are (still) correct that they could and should have made a few more moves. Boy, Tim Ream would look pretty good next to Miazga . . .
The team has definitely been better than expected. No question about it and I have to admit Marsch and Ali got plenty of things right. The people who were saying this team needed no improvements though I think were really seeing things through rose colored glasses.
And I’m all for bringing through players from the academy. But realistically you aren’t ever going to have 11 homegrowns out there every game. The owner is worth $12 billion so spend some of that to bring in reinforcements.
And I’m not saying give has beens like Fat Frank $6m a year. That doesn’t work. But, for example, there must be other 25 year old South Americans who wouldn’t mind playing in NY and making a couple million a year. I don’t have names but surely Ali must. Tim Ream would also have been a great guy to bring back (assuming he wants to come back that is).
Thanks Dikranovich. Would have been nice to have some of these crucial details included in the article.
So, on a corner kick, the ball just have to be touched? I thought all free kicks had to travel one full circumference before they could be touched by another player.
That’s what I thought. I just search the rules on FIFA.com and found no clarification. All it says is the ball has to be kicked. No where does it say the ball has to travel it’s circumference. I like the NYRB creativity. Reminds me when the Bad News Bears pitcher had a meeting on the mound and secretly handed the ball to the first baseman who then tagged the runner on first out when play resumed. But I just with the NYRB could win without such tactics.
No, just a touch. But you can’t touch the ball twice consecutively from a dead ball position. The ar was looking right at it and missed the call.
FIFA rules are clear on a corner kick. The ball is in play once it is touched and moved by an attacking player. The infringement here occurs because the initial taker, touched the ball with his foot, and then touched it again. Once he touches the ball a second time, a foul has occurred and the defending team is awarded a free kick, indirect, from the spot of the foul.