Chicago Fire FC fell 1-0 to Toronto FC on Saturday in the Club's second friendly match of 2022 preseason camp.
After a blustery opening 30 minutes at St. David’s Performance Center in Austin, the match was paused due to lightning in the area and resumed play following a short delay. As a result of the break in action, the teams played straight through from the 30th minute resumption until the final whistle in the 90th minute.
Toronto forward Jesús Jiménez broke the deadlock in the 55' minute by finishing off a Toronto sequence inside the Fire 18-yard box and putting his side ahead 1-0.
Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who appeared in his first 2022 preseason match for the Club after being called into the U.S. Men's National Team in January, made a highlight reel save in the 57th minute to deny Toronto forward Jayden Nelson.
The Fire's best chance at goal came in the 78th minute. Forward Chinonso Offor found himself on the ball inside the center circle, and sprung a sprinting Jhon Durán in behind the Toronto defense. Durán's left-footed attempt inside the TFC 18 was denied by a sprawling save from goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh.
Second half substitution Chris Brady also displayed quick reflexes with a close-range denial of Ralph Priso-Mbongue that prevented a Toronto second.
Alongside Slonina, Saturday's match also served as the 2022 friendly debuts for newly acquired defender Rafael Czichos, Homegrown signing Missael RodrÃguez, midfielder Javier Casas, and defenders Carlos Terán and Miguel Navarro.
The Fire will next take on FC Dallas in their third of four preseason friendlies on Feb. 16 (11 a.m. CT) at St. David’s Performance Center, followed by a meeting with Austin FC on Feb. 19 (12 p.m. CT).
First half lineup:
Gabriel Slonina; Boris Sekulić, Carlos Terán, Rafael Czichos, Miguel Navarro; Mauricio Pineda, Javier Casas; Alex Monis (45' Missael RodrÃguez), Gaston Giménez, Fabian Herbers; Kacper PrzybyÅ‚ko.
60th minute lineup change:
Chris Brady; Jhon Espinoza, Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Bornstein, Andre Reynolds; Victor Bezerra, Justin Reynolds, Sergio Oregel, Missael RodrÃguez; Chinonso Offor, Jhon Durán.
