CHICAGO (Aug. 30, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC (8-10-8, 32 points) fell 1-0 to Western Conference rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10-8-7, 37 points) on Wednesday night at Soldier Field.
Despite the loss, the Fire held its place above the playoff line with 32 points, ahead of D.C. United and Charlotte FC who have 30 points each.
Chicago had several chances in the opening 20 minutes, including a 10th minute attempt by Kei Kamara that the goalkeeper deflected over the crossbar. In the 18th minute, it was once again Kamara with an attempt, as he hit a half-volley over the crossbar on a pass from Xherdan Shaqiri.
Vancouver struck first, however, with a 19th minute goal from Brian White. Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady was able to slightly slow the attempt and eventually hold onto it, but the referee ruled that the ball had already crossed over the goal line on the bounce.
The second half was an even affair, with the Fire having 61 percent of the possession and taking 10 shots. The Fire had a few clear opportunities, notably in the 78th minute when Arnaud Souquet and Shaqiri combined several times as they carried the ball into the right side of the 18-yard-box, but Shaqiri’s shot went straight to Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. Ten minutes later, in the 88th minute, Carlos Terán sent a long throw-in into the box where Kei Kamara flicked a header on goal, but Takaoka once again made the save.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago travels to Washington D.C. to face D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, Sept. 2 before entering an international break. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast live on Apple TV, streamed in English on wlsam.com and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook
Notes:
- Striker Kei Kamara played in his 414th MLS career match, surpassing Chris Wondolowski for fourth place on the all-time appearance list.
- Defender/midfielder Mauricio Pineda played in his 100th Major League Soccer match, becoming the first Homegrown player in Club history to play in 100 regular season matches for the Fire.
- Ivorian midfielder Ousmane Doumbia and Argentine midfielder Federico Navarro started together for the first time as Chicago Fire teammates.
- Maren Haile-Selassi, Xherdan Shaqiri and Brian Gutiérrez started together once again for the ninth time in the 2023 MLS regular season, and the 11th time overall this year.
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady returned to the starting lineup for the 22nd time during the 2023 MLS regular season, and 25th time overall.
- Midfielders Gastón Giménez (red card suspension), Chris Mueller (right upper leg) and Javier Casas Jr. (right lower leg), and forward Victor Bezerra (right lower leg) were not available for tonight’s match.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 0:1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Goals:
VAN - White (10) (Gauld, 7) (WATCH) 19’
Discipline:
VAN - Brown (Yellow Card) 58’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Terán, D Pineda (Souquet, 46’), D Czichos (capt.), D M. Navarro, M Haile-Selassie (Torres, 65’), M F. Navarro, M Doumbia (Herbers, 65’), M Gutiérrez, M Shaqiri (Koutsias, 78’), F Kamara
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Dean, D Omsberg, D Aceves, F Przybyłko
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: GK Takaoka, D Blackmon, D Veselinovic, D Brown, D Ahmed (Schöpf, 60’), M Berhalter, M Raposo (M Ngando, 79’), M Vite, M Laryea (Adekugbe, 68’), F White (F Córdova, 78’), F Gauld (capt.)
Subs not used: GK Boehmer, D Laborda, M Teibert, F Johnson, F Becher
Stats Summary: CHI / VAN
Shots: 14 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 4 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 85.4% / 85.8%
Corners: 4 / 5
Fouls: 13 / 14
Offsides: 0 / 1
Possession: 53.4% / 46.6%
Attendance: 9,187
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
*Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: *Jon Freemon
VAR: Geoff Gamble
*Assistant VAR: *Robert Schaap
