BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 27, 2019) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club (5-10-9, 24 points) battled D.C. United (9-6-9, 36 points) to a 0-0 draw at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night. The scoreless result marks the second time this season the Fire and D.C. United have ended a match in a draw (3-3 on May 29 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.). Additionally, today’s result marked the fifth clean sheet for the Fire this season.
In the 29th minute, the Men in Red nearly scored when midfielder Nicolás Gaitán floated a free kick into the six-yard box. Defender Francisco Calvo connected with Gaitán’s floater and headed it back across the face of the goal, forcing goalkeeper Bill Hamid to make a diving save. The rebound dropped near defender Johan Kappelhof who directed the ball on target, but it was cleared off the line by D.C. United defender Frédéric Brillant (WATCH).
In the early stages of the second half, after a D.C. United turnover in their own half, the Fire forced Hamid to make another big save when midfielder Brandt Bronico received a pass from midfielder Przemysław Frankowski and blasted a powerful attempt on target in the 47th minute (WATCH).
After not facing a shot on target in the first half, goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm was tested in the 67th minute, making a diving save to his right on Wayne Rooney’s long-range free kick (WATCH).
The Fire looked to the take the lead in the 82nd minute when Calvo connected with Frankowski who unleashed a strong right footed shot that forced Hamid to make a sprawling save (WATCH). Three minutes later, the Fire knocked on Hamid’s door once again when Frankowski’s cross to midfielder Amando Moreno was played to Fire captain Dax McCarty in the six-yard box. McCarty’s attempt deflected off D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum and went over the crossbar.
In the final minute of the game, a Diego Campos corner was cleared to Bronico, who made a slick pass over to Moreno. The young midfielder’s right-footed shot sailed over the goal just missing the late winner (WATCH).
Recently-signed defender Jonathan Bornstein made his debut for the Fire playing all 90 minutes. Bornstein played 123 MLS regular season games for Chivas USA between 2006-10 before playing abroad in Mexico and Israel.
Looking ahead, the Fire will travel to face the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 3. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. CT, the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and transmitted locally in Spanish on Univision Radio WRTO AM 1200.
Box Score:
Chicago Fire 0:0 D.C. United
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Sapong (Caution) 54’
CHI - Kappelhof (Caution) 58’
DC - Pines (Caution) 69’
Chicago Fire: GK Kronholm, D Kappelhof, D Schweinsteiger, D Calvo, D Bornstein, M McCarty©, M Bronico, M Frankowski, M Gaitán (Campos 76’), M Sapong, F Nikolić (Moreno 70’)
Subs not used: Sánchez, Marcelo, Gutjahr, Reynolds, Lillard
Shots: 14 Shots on goal: 3 Fouls: 10 Offsides: 0 Corners: 8
D.C. United: GK Hamid, D Birnbaum, D Brillant, D Pines, D Jara, M Moreno, M Canouse (Durkin 65’), M Rodríguez, M Rooney© (Segura 90’), M Arriola (Mora 88’), F Acosta
Subs not used: Seitz, Odoi-Atsem, Robinson, Amarikwa
Shots: 10 Shots on goal: 1 Fouls: 7 Offsides: 0 Corners: 4
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Apolinar Mariscal
Fourth Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 18,232
