CHICAGO (April 2, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC (2-0-3, 9 points) extended their season-opening unbeaten streak to five matches with a 0-0 draw against FC Dallas (2-1-2, 8 points) on Saturday afternoon at Soldier Field.
In a rain-soaked match, both teams were unable to break the deadlock, with neither side registering a shot on goal and splitting possession (49.2%-50.8%) in the first half. The Fire began the second half on the attack as defender Boris Sekulić created the game’s best scoring opportunity in the 55th minute. The Slovakian defender dribbled down the right flank and cut inside on his left foot, firing a shot just wide of the goal.
Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina made one save on the night to secure another shutout at home for the Fire. The 17-year-old Addison, Ill., native has now tallied eight shutouts in 16 professional starts with the Club.
NEXT GAME: The Fire will hit the road to face Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday, April 9. Beginning at 12:00 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast live on Univision, TUDN, Twitter (English audio) and Univision Radio.
Notes:
- Chicago remains unbeaten in the first five matches of the season. The Fire have only gone unbeaten in its first five games of the season on one occasion prior to this campaign (2009). In the 2009 season, the Club avoided defeat through its first 11 games of the season.
- Anchored by goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, the Fire backline notched its league-leading fifth shutout of the season.
- Slonina now has eight shutouts in 16 professional appearances and starts, dating back to the 2021 campaign.
- Tonight’s match marked the first time head coach Ezra Hendrickson made a change to his starting lineup that picked up eight points prior to today’s match.
- Midfielder Gaston Giménez earned Heineken Man of the Match honors after controlling the midfield, including winning 100 percent of his aerial duels.
- Captain Rafael Czichos was unavailable for today’s contest due to health and safety protocols.
- Defender Carlos Terán was named to the 20-man roster for the first time this season. Terán had missed the first four games due to a thigh injury.
- Homegrown Javier Casas Jr. earned his first appearance of the 2022 season after coming on in the 84th minute.
- Eleven players on the Fire’s matchday roster were aged 23 or younger. Four of those players were named to Hendrickson’s starting lineup, including 17-year old goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, 23-year-old defender Miguel Navarro, 22-year-old midfielder Federico Navarro and 22-year-old winger Stanislav Ivanov.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 0:0 FC Dallas
Goals:
None
Discipline:
DAL - Quignon (Yellow Card) 17’
CHI - Omsberg (Yellow Card) 38’
DAL - Farfan (Yellow Card) 47’
CHI - Espinoza (Yellow Card) 62’
CHI - Przybylko (Yellow Card) 69’
CHI - Casas Jr. (Yellow Card) 89’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Slonina, D Sekulić (Espinoza, 61’), D Pineda, D Omsberg, D M. Navarro, M Gimenez, M F. Navarro, M Herbers (Bornstein, 60’), M Shaqiri © (Gutiérrez, 19’), M Ivanov (Casas Jr., 84’), F Przybyłko
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Burks, D Terán, F Offor, F Durán
FC Dallas: GK Paes, D Gomes, D Martinez, D Hedges, D Farfan, M Quignon (Cerrillo, 63’), M Servania, M Pomykal (Ntsabeleng, 84’), F Obrian, F Jara (Ferreira 63’), F Velasco (Elmedkhar, 90’+1’)
Subs not used: GK Maurer, D Munjoma, D Tafari, D Twumasi, F Schon
Stats Summary: CHI / DAL
Shots: 9 / 5
Shots on Goal: 1 / 1
Passing Accuracy: 82.4%/ 79.8%
Saves: 1 / 1
Corners: 2 / 1
Fouls: 15 / 18
Offsides: 4 / 4
Possession: 50.1% / 49.9%
Attendance: 11,411
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Geoff Gamble, Peter Manikowski
