Chicago Fire FC Falls 2-1 to San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Sunday Night

SAN JOSE, California (July 3, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC (4-9-5, 17 points) fell 2-1 against the San Jose Earthquakes (4-7-6, 18 points) on Sunday night at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutiérrez scored the first goal of his Major League Soccer career in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the two second-half goals from San Jose.

San Jose applied pressure early in the second half, scoring in the 47th minute off a shot by Kikanović after a series of four rebounds inside the box. The scoring play began when Gaga Slonina saved the original shot from Jamiro Monteiro, then Marcos Lopez’s shot hit the crossbar. The rebound fell to Cristian Espinoza, whose first shot was blocked by Rafael Czichos. Espinoza recovered the ball and struck again, hitting the post. That rebound fell to Benji Kikanović, who reacted in time to touch it into the net.

Kikanović scored his second goal of the seasonin the 87th minute, just one minute after referee Victor Rivas determined that an action against Czichos in the box was not a foul using VAR. Monteiro won the ball near midfield and sent Kikanovic up the right flank. He cut around his defender and sent a ball inside the far post, just past the outstretched hands of Slonina.

The Fire eventually got on the board in 90+5th minute with a goal by Gutiérrez’s coming off a counterattack, after fellow second-half sub Jhon Durán recovered a ball in the Fire’s half. Durán carried the ball and played a perfectly-weighted pass into the box where Gutiérrez was making a run behind the defense. He faced San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski one-on-one, sending the ball on the ground under the goalkeeper and into the open net.

Throughout the match, Chicago goalkeeper Gaga Slonina logged a season-high six saves, increasing his season total to 37.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago returns home to host the Columbus Crew on Saturday, July 9 at Soldier Field. Beginning at 7:00 p.m, the match will be televised on WGN-TV and CF97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.

Notes:

• Slonina made a season-high six saves against San Jose, the first time he has made at least five saves in an MLS match since making five saves against Orlando City on April 9.
• Brian Gutiérrez scored his first Major League Soccer goal against San Jose, and forward Jhon Durán registered his second assist of the season.

Box Score:
San Jose Earthquakes 2:1 Chicago Fire FC

Goals:
SJ - Kikanović (1) 47’
SJ - Kikanović (2) (Monteiro 5) 87’
CHI - Gutiérrez (1) (Durán 2) 90+5’

Discipline:
CHI - Mueller (Yellow Card) 27’
CHI - Giménez (Yellow Card) 42’
SJ - Marie (Yellow Card) 63’
SJ - Kikanovic (Yellow Card) 73’
SJ - Lopez (Yellow Card) 75’

Chicago Fire FC: GK Slonina, D Sekulić (Espinoza, 62’), D Terán, D Czichos ©, D Bornstein (Reynolds II, 46’), M Herbers (Torres, 72’), M F. Navarro, M Shaqiri (Gutiérrez, 62’), M Giménez, M Mueller, F Przybyłko (Durán, 77’)

Subs not used: GK Richey, F Bezerra, M Casas Jr., M Ivanov

San Jose Earthquakes: GK Marcinkowski, D Marie (Thompson, 74’), D Nathan, D Beason, D Lopez, M Yueill ©, M Gregus (Judson, 79’), M Monteiro, F Espinoza (Salinas, 90+5), F Ebobisse, F Kikanovic

Subs not used: GK Bersano, M Remedi, M Skahan, D Agren, F Bpuda, F Cowell

Stats Summary: SJ / CHI
Shots: 22 / 18
Shots on Goal: 8 / 6
Saves: 5 / 6
Passing Accuracy: 80.9% / 70.9%
Corners: 4 / 5
Fouls: 11 / 17
Offsides: 2 / 0
Possession: 55.5% / 44.5%

Attendance: 13,224

Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Micheal Barwegen
Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis
VAR: Younes Marrakchi, Tom Supple