Game Recap: Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls
Many at times, the best MLS games, or soccer matches in general for that matter, are the matches between two uneven sides. Where the favorite comes in determined to keep the momentum going, and the underdog is fighting for his life and has everything to prove.
So was the game last night, when Bottom of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference Chicago Fire met the conferences second place, and strong contenders for first, New York Red Bulls.
The visitors from New York came to this match with everything going for them, with a 6-game winning streak, and showing one of the strongest performances in the MLS this season. Chicago Fire came with a very different recent past, with a 3-game winless streak, but even more discouraging was the last 0-1 loss at home to bottom dwellers of the MLS Western Conference Colorado Rapids.
However, the one statistic that already turned into a myth was lurking in the background, and probably giving hope to Chicago: New York Red Bulls have NEVER won in Toyota Park.
All seemed to be going New York’s way at the start of the evening. With the already strong momentum getting a huge gust of tailwind, with a penalty awarded to the visitors. As Matt Miazga draws a foul in the penalty area from Chicago’s Jeff Larentowicz.
New York’s Sacha Kijestan converts the penalty and gives New York an early Lead (10’).
Chicago Fire 0 – 1 New York Red Bulls
The hosts equalized in the middle of the first half, with Gilberto sending a ball to Kennedy Igboananike who completed a perfect run into the center of the box to score.
Chicago Fire 1 – 1 New York Red Bulls
Right before half time, Chicago went on to increase its lead when Gilberto sent the ball from the right into the center, Michael Stephens stabilized the ball and passed it with his chest into the box to find Patrick Nyarko, who scored from around the penalty spot (41’).
Chicago Fire 2 – 1 New York Red Bulls
Shortly after returning from halftime, New York Red Bulls responded with a very clever corner-kick trick, with Lloyd Sam placing the ball in the corner, but instead of a typical corner kick passed to Sacha Kijestan who drove the ball to Ronald Zubar to score (49’).
Chicago Fire 2 – 2 New York Red Bulls
It too some time, but Chicago did finally reply, with Michael Stephens sending a perfect pass to David Accam, who kept his composure until finding unmarked Kennedy Igboananike and passing him to score the winning goal (73’).
Chicago Fire 3 – 2 New York Red Bulls
Igboananike nearly got a hat trick but was declined another goal in stoppage time (93’). Overall, Chicago Fire looked very strong in this match. And the New York Red Bulls did give good answers to Chicago, but not good enough to maintain their six-game winning streak.
So to date, New York Red Bulls are still yet to ever win at Toyota Park.
