March 11, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO – Chicago Fire FC (0-1-1, 1 point) fell 1-0 to the Philadelphia Union (2-1-0, 6 points) on Saturday evening at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., after conceding a 90th-minute goal from striker Joaquin Torres.
The Fire began the match with a new formation, as head coach Ezra Hendrickson made five changes to the starting lineup from the team’s home home opener last weekend, with midfielders Federico Navarro and Jairo Torres sidelined due to injury.
After controlling the run of play in the first half, the Fire were forced to play down a man for the majority of the second 45 when midfielder Fabian Herbers was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 50th minute. The Fire ultimately finished the night with nine players after forward Kei Kamara was sent off in second-half stoppage time with a second yellow card.
Facing a Union side that entered the match with 12 straight wins at home dating back to June 2022, Chicago came close to scoring the fastest goal in Club history within the first 30 seconds of the match when midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri created a goal-scoring opportunity for team captain Rafael Czichos. The chance occurred when Shaqiri sent in a dangerous free kick that found Czichos inside the 18-yard box. Following a scramble to recover the ball, the German was able to get a shot off that narrowly missed the target.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the first half with Philadelphia earning a free kick, followed by a corner kick in the 13th minute. Defender Kai Wagner sent in a corner that forward Julian Carranza fired on goal, but Chicago midfielder Gastón Giménez was on the goal line to clear the shot away from danger.
Just four minutes later, Chicago once again proved dangerous as forward Kei Kamara got behind the Philadelphia backline and scored a goal that was eventually ruled offside by VAR. In the 30th minute, Kamara teamed up with defender Miguel Navarro, winning the ball in the middle of the field and passing it up the left flank. Navarro drove down the left wing and sent in a cross that forward Kacper Przybyłko anticipated perfectly, but his header was saved by Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Philadelphia was forced to make a substitution in the 33rd minute after Blake left the field with an injury. Chicago finished the first half with 56.1 percent possession and a 73.3 percent passing accuracy to Philadelphia’s 43.9 percent and 63.7 percent,…
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