CHICAGO (Aug. 4, 2021) - Playing its second match in four days, Chicago Fire FC (3-9-5, 14 points) earned a point in a 0-0 draw with New York City FC (8-5-3, 27 points) at Soldier Field on Wednesday night.
Tonight’s match was highlighted by the first career start and appearance for Fire Homegrown goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who replaced an injured Bobby Shuttelworth in the starting lineup. Slonina became the youngest goalkeeper to start a match in MLS history (17 years, 81 days). Appearing in front of his hometown, the Addison, Illinois native also became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to post a shutout, tallying four saves.
The shutout performance from Slonina and the Fire marks the first time NYCFC have been held scoreless in its last 26 matches, dating back to the 2020 season. NYCFC entered tonight’s match with nine goals in its last two games and the second-most goals in the league this season (30).
In the 73rd minute, New York City midfielder Keaton Parks was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, reducing NYCFC to 10 men for the remainder of the contest. Despite outpossessing the visitors, the Fire were unable to find the go-ahead goal in the final moments of the game, resulting in a tightly contested 0-0 scoreline.
NEXT GAME: Chicago Fire FC will continue the Club’s three-game homestand at Soldier Field on Sunday, Aug. 8 against the New York Red Bulls. The match will begin at 5:00 p.m. CT and be broadcast on WGN-TV, CFFC Live, TUDN 1200 AM.
NOTES:
- The 0-0 result marks the Fire’s third shutout in 2021.
- Forward Stanislav Ivanov made his first ever MLS start tonight, playing 64 minutes.
- Tonight’s match was the first meeting between Chicago and NYCFC this season. Overall, the Fire have posted a 2-2-3 home record against NYC since 2015.
- The Fire were without midfielder Fabian Herbers who was suspended for the game due to yellow card accumulation.
- The Fire were without defender Wyatt Omsberg who served a one-game suspension after receiving a red card against the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 1.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 0:0 New York City FC
Goals:
None
Discipline:
NYC - Parks (Yellow Card) 42’
NYC - Parks (Second Yellow Card, Ejection) 73’
NYC - Tajouri-Shradi (Yellow Card) 85’
CHI - Kappelhof (Yellow Card) 90’
Chicago Fire FC: GK G. Slonina, D Kappelhof (Terán 90+3’), D Pineda, D Calvo©, M Sekulić, M Medrán, M Giménez, M Aliseda, M Bornstein (Gutiérrez 87’), F Ivanov (Berić 64’), F Offor (Stojanović 87’)
Subs not used: GK Brady, D Espinoza, M Monis, F Collier
New York City FC: GK Johnson, D Tinnerholm, D Chanot, D Callens, D Thorarinsson (Amundsen 83’), M Morales, M Parks, M Moralez (Jasson 90+5’), M Medina (Tajouri-Shradi 67’), M Thiago (Acevedo 67’), F Castellanos (RodrÃguez 83’)
Subs not used: GK Barraza, D Gray, D Ibeagha, M Rocha
Stats Summary: CHI / NYC
Shots: 5 / 15
Shots on Goal: 1 / 4
Passing Accuracy: 81.4% / 79.4%
Saves: 4 / 1
Corners: 2 / 2
Fouls: 9 / 15
Offsides: 3 / 0
Possession: 53.0% / 47.0%
Attendance: 8,371
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein
Fourth Official: Sergii Demianchuk
VAR: Ismir Pekmic, Eric Boria
