Chicago Fire FC Falls 2-1 to FC Cincinnati at Soldier Field

CHICAGO (May 14, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC (2-5-4, 10 points) fell 2-1 to FC Cincinnati (6-5-1, 19 points) at Soldier Field on Saturday night.

Despite producing a season-high 18 shots and winning the possession battle (59.2-40.8), the Fire suffered its second home defeat of the season after conceding a goal in each half to the visitors.

Cincinnati took the lead in the 33rd minute when Chicago defender Rafael Czichos attempted to head the ball back to goalkeeper Gaga Slonina but instead found the back of his own net.

Pushing all throughout the second half for an equalizer, the Fire would eventually level the score in the 83rd minute when forward Jhon Durán notched his first career goal for the Fire. Attacking a corner kick from midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, Durán flicked his header just inside the far post with seven minutes remaining in the contest.

However, Cincinnati would score the winner just two minutes later after intercepting an errant pass from Slonina, burying a finish from the right side of the 18-yard box in the 85th minute.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago will play its first of three straight away matches on Wednesday, May 18, taking on the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast live on WGN-TV and CF97 Live and will be transmitted locally in Spanish on Univision Radio.

Notes:

• Eighteen-year-old forward Jhon Durán scored his first career goal for the Fire.
• The Fire’s 18 shots marked a season high for the Club in a single game in 2022.
• Winger Chris Mueller made his first start at Soldier Field for the Club tonight, playing 71 minutes in his second appearance with the Fire.
• Midfielder Fabian Herbers made his first start for the Club since April 2, after missing over a month of game action due a hip injury.
• Jairo Torres made his Fire debut when he was subbed on in the 71st minute of play. Torres was originally acquired by the Club as a Young Designated Player via transfer from Liga MX side Atlas F.C. on Feb. 19, before joining the team on May 1.
• Defender Jonathan Bornstein made his 200th Major League Soccer appearance, including regular season and playoff matches.

Box Score:
Chicago Fire FC 1:2 FC Cincinnati

Goals:
CIN - Czichos (Own goal) 33’
CHI - Durán (1) (Shaqiri 3) 83’
CIN - Acosta (5) 85’

Discipline:
CIN - Moreno (Yellow Card) 7’
CIN - Acosta (Yellow Card) 10’

Chicago Fire FC: GK Slonina, D Sekulić, D Omsberg, D Czichos ©, D Bornstein (Espinoza, 82’), M Mueller (Torres, 71’), M Shaqiri, M Giménez, M F. Navarro, M Herbers (Gutiérrez, 60’), F Offor (Durán, 60’)

Subs not used: GK Brady, D Pineda, D Terán, D Reynolds II, M Ivanov

FC Cincinnati: GK Celentano, D Powell, D Nelson, D Hagglund, D Murphy, M Nwobodo, M Acosta © (Medunjanin, 89’), M Moreno, F Badji (Ordonez, 66’), F Vazquez, F Barreal (Blackett, 77’)

Subs not used: GK Vermeer, D Bailey, D Cameron, D Gaddis, M Robledo, F Markanich

Stats Summary: CHI / CIN
Shots: 18 / 9
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 80.4% / 72.1%
Saves: 2 / 4
Corners: 14 / 2
Fouls: 13 / 13
Offsides: 2 / 3
Possession: 60.2% / 39.8%

Attendance: 14,049

Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referees: Kevin Klinger, Brooke Mayo
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez, Tom Supple