MONTRÉAL (Sept. 19, 2021) - Chicago Fire FC (6-14-5, 23 points) concluded its six-game road trip with a 2-0 loss to CF Montréal (10-8-7, 37 points) at Stade Saputo on Sunday afternoon.
Despite outshooting CF Montréal 6-1 in the first half, including a 4-0 edge in shots on target, Chicago conceded twice against the run of play in the second half. Forward Romell Quioto slotted away his fifth goal of the season in the 60th minute and a deflection from Fire defender Carlos Terán resulted in an own goal in the 80th minute.
Chicago started the game strongly and came close to finding the opening goal on several occasions in the opening 45, forcing Montréal goalkeeper James Pantemis into difficult saves in the 18th and 20th minutes. Defender Maurico Pineda had a free header in the six-yard box that was pushed wide by Pantemis, followed by a curling effort from midfielder Luka Stojanović, which required a full-stretch save from the goalkeeper.
The Fire created another golden opportunity to score in the 26th minute when midfielder Fabian Herbers got on the end of forward Stanislav Ivanov’s cross into the box. The German blasted a shot that was destined for the back of the net but was deflected just prior to hitting the target. After going down 1-0, Chicago appeared to level the score in the 77th minute when Herbers chipped the ball into the far corner, but the goal was disallowed due to defender Miguel Navarro being in an offside position.
Chicago homegrown goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina – the youngest starter for both teams in today’s match (17 years old) – was called upon in the 22nd minute when forward Joaquín Torres was slipped in behind for a one-on-one opportunity. Charging off his line, Slonina smothered Torres’ attempt to dribble past him, denying the host’s lone scoring opportunity in the first half. Slonina finished the match with two saves.
NEXT GAME: Chicago Fire FC will return to the Windy City for three straight games at home, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The Club will face the New England Revolution at 7:00 p.m. CT at Soldier Field. The match will be broadcast live on WGN-TV, CFFC Live and TUDN 1200 AM.
NOTES:
- Seven of the Fire’s 11 starters today were age 23 or younger - Gabriel Slonina (17), Carlos Terán (20), Mauricio Pineda (23), Federico Navarro (21), Miguel Navarro (22), Stanislav Ivanov (22) and Chinonso Offor (21).
- Having made a pair of substitute appearances since arriving to Chicago earlier this month, summer signing F. Navarro earned his first career MLS start for the Fire today.
- Slonina made his second professional start in goal for the Fire today. The Addison, Ill., native was the youngest starter on the field for both teams.
- Today’s match was the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. MTL leads the regular season series with a 10-8-6.
Box Score:
CF Montréal 2:0 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
MTL - Quioto (5) (Mihailović 11) 60’
MTL - Terán (Own goal) 80’
Discipline:
CHI - Stojanović (Yellow Card) 39’
CHI - Terán (Yellow Card) 49’
Chicago Fire FC: GK G. Slonina, D Terán (Kappelhof 87’), D Pineda, D Bornstein ©, M Sekulić, M F. Navarro, M Herbers (Collier 87’), M M. Navarro, M Ivanov (Berić 68’), M Stojanović (Medrán 56’), F Offor
Subs not used: GK Shuttleworth, D Omsberg, D Espinoza, M Monis
CF Montréal: GK Pantemis, D Waterman, D Camacho, D Miller, M Choinière, M Piette (Hamdi HT), M Wanyama, M Bassong (Zouhir 90+2’), F Torres (Lappalainen 84’), F Quioto (Sunusi 84’), F Mihailović (Maciel 68’)
Subs not used: GK Breza, D Kizza, M Bayiha, F Johnsen
Stats Summary: MTL / CHI
Shots: 8 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Passing Accuracy: 87.9% / 80.6%
Saves: 4 / 2
Corners: 5 / 8
Fouls: 14 / 11
Offsides: 2 / 2
Possession: 62.0% / 38.0%
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
Assistant Referees: Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho, Cory Richardson
Fourth Official: David Barrie
VAR: Drew Fischer, Robert Schaap
