On one hand, the team is not losing. On the other hand, it has not emerged victorious from a 2014 regular season match.
A reported crowd of 15,743 made its way out to Toyota Park for the rare opportunity to watch two Chicago soccer matches from the comfort of the same seat. Following the Fire’s 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution, the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League began its match against the Western New York Flash. The Red Stars called Toyota Park home in 2009 and 2010, but will return to Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. for the remainder of the season.
Of all players in the men’s game, Fire forward Quincy Amarikwa had the most eventful outing. Amarikwa scored in the 16th minute and earned a second yellow card in 73rd minute, resulting in a red card and a one-game suspension. The game had been tied by New England midfielder Lee Nguyen in the 31st minute, so the Revolution had an excellent chance to win the game with the extra man after Amarikwa was sent off. The Fire ultimately held off the road side, as both sides finished the match with ten men after New England defender Kevin Alston was given a red card in the 90th minute.
[tabs style=”2″]
[tab title=”Goals”]CHI: 16′ Quincy Amarikwa assisted by Harrison Shipp and Jeff Larentowicz. CHI 1-0 NE
NE: 31′ Lee Nguyen unassisted. CHI 1-1 NE[/tab]
[tab title=”Discipline”]CHI: 34′ Quincy Amarikwa, Yellow (Diving)
NE: 45’+2′ Darrius Barnes, Yellow (Time Wasting)
NE: 64′ Andy Dorman, Yellow (Persistent Infringement)
CHI: 73′ Quincy Amarikwa, Second Yellow/Red (Dangerous Play)
NE: 87′ A.J. Soares, Yellow (Foul)
NE: 90′ Kevin Alston, Red (Handling on the Line)[/tab]
[tab title=”Substitutions”]CHI: 39′ midfielder Matt Watson for midfielder Alex
NE: HT defender Chris Tierney for midfielder Diego Fagundez
NE: 69′ forward Jerry Bengtson for midfielder Saer Sene
CHI: 70′ forward Juan Luis Anangono for midfielder Harrison Shipp
CHI: 88′ midfielder Victor Pineda for midfielder Patrick Nyarko
NE: 88′ midfielder Steve Neumann for midfielder Daigo Kobayashi[/tab]
[tab title=”Match Facts”]Attendance: 15,743
Shots: CHI 17-4 NE
Possession: CHI 51.9%-48.1% NE
Fouls: CHI 13-22 NE
Corners: CHI 7-2 NE[/tab]
[/tabs]
The Fire host Real Salt Lake May 3 at Toyota Park. The match is set to start at 7:30 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast on My50 and in Wisconsin on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel. The team is currently 0-1-6 and ninth place in the Eastern Conference.