It was another tough match for the Chicago Fire, falling to NYCFC 1-0 on Sunday
The Chicago Fire dropped a 1-0 decision to reigning MLS Cup champion New York City Football Club on Sunday night, marking their ninth-straight winless match.
It was a promising start for the Fire, as they maintained a significant amount of pressure through the first 15 minutes of the match, but NYCFC turned the tide from there.
In the 19th minute, Santiago Rodriguez had a clean look at goal off a corner kick for New York, firing a shot from just outside the top of the penalty area that was bound for the back of the net before Gaston Gimenez flicked it away. Shortly after that, VAR determined that Miguel Navarro was guilty of a handball as he went up to challenge a cross in the penalty box, as his arm inadvertently made contact with the ball while his back was to it. Heber Araujo dos Santos converted on the opportunity from 12 yards out in the 23rd minute, which was all NYCFC needed on the day.
Goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina bounced back from two straight rough showings against Cincinnati FC and New York Red Bulls, coming up with a save off a shot from Gabriel Pereira that took a deflection from Wyatt Omsberg in the 39th minute. He made another impressive stop on a Talles Magno shot in the 49th minute, after Gimenez turned the ball over in a precarious spot.
The Fire’s best opportunity of the match came in the 55th minute, as Xherdan Shaquiri crossed a well placed ball into the box for Jhon Duran, but his left footed volley skied over the net from just outside the six-yard box; Duran was then subbed off for Kacper Przybyłko.
It appeared as though the Fire had started to solve their offensive woes in their 3-3 draw on Wednesday against New York Red Bulls, but it instead became the seventh time they have been shut out this season.
NYCFC had allowed just 10 goals against coming into Sunday, the second best mark in MLS, and Chicago struggled to create many opportunities against their stout defense.
It was the third game in eight days for Chicago, who were without their captain, Rafael Czichos (leg injury). On the other side, New York were without Taty Castellanos (yellow card accumulation), who is tied for second amongst goal scorers in MLS.
With the result, the Chicago Fire fell to 2-6-5 and will play their third consecutive road match next Saturday, May 28th at 6:00pm CST against Toronto FC.
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