Minnesota United 2, Chicago Fire 1: First Thoughts

Minnesota United 2 Ibson 55’, Nicholson 66’

Chicago Fire 1 Collier 59’

• Lineups are here!
• Pregame thought 1: Not gonna lie, I’m feeling pretty dubious about this lineup. I know they had to make do with some key absences (Polster has a knee sprain and Basti’s about to become a dad) but wooooof.
• Pregame thought 2: OTOH, it’s good to see some youts and fringe players get a shot. Really excited to see what Collier can do.
• Let’s goooooooooooooooooooooooo
• I’m glad MNUFC are going to have their own stadium in a few years. Playing on a college football field is discombobulating to watch.
• Good news: In theory the Fire will be intimately familiar with Lampson’s weaknesses and should theoretically be able to exploit them. Bad news: enough Fire players in the lineup today weren’t on the roster last year, or were but didn’t play regularly, that it might not actually be possible after all.
• Oh neat, Solignac brought down in the box and there’s no call. Cooooooooool.
• (Ok on replay it didn’t look that clear cut.)
• So we’re 20 minutes in and Minnesota are putting a lot of pressure on our backline. This won’t end well.
• For reasons I cannot understand, Sanchez came way out of the box to try and challenge an attacker and ended up being stranded with a cross incoming. The only reason we’re not down 1-0 right now is because this is MNUFC. Un-fucking-acceptable from Sanchez there.

• But hey, at least Katai’s looking good. His shooting sucks but his movement is <chef’s kiss emoji>
• Update: things could be better!!
• Some good ideas on service to Niko but it’s not quite coming together.
• Halftime!
• Halftime thought 1: A lot of the same problems from last week are back. Questionable GK + backline decision-making, a lack of sharpness up front, and a team shape that looks decidedly un-geometric. The only reason we’re not losing right now is because it’s Minnesota United.
• Halftime thought 2: I’m not sure how they can fix this in the second half. Maybe they can’t.
• Second half is underway!
• MNUFC doing a good job holding the ball in the opening few minutes of the half. They’re not doing a whole lot with it, but they’re keeping it away from the Fire.
• Hahaha as soon as I type that Tyrone Mears is played through on goal and Sanchez has to scramble to save it.

• GOAL 55’ All the pressure MNUFC had been piling on Sanchez and the backline finally paid off. Ibson capitalizes on ball-watching and bad positioning. 1-0 MNUFC lead.
• Too many Fire players were in a position to kill that attack and stop the goal and didn’t. I don’t know how you fix this.
• GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL 59’ COLLIER ON THE REBOUND FOR HIS FIRST MLS GOAL!! 1-1 GAME ON BINCHES
• Game got quiet again, but at least we ruined the shut-outs for each other. Or, something.
• GOAL 66’ Oh look, another ball that should’ve been easily dealt with turns into a goal. Sam Nicholson with the header, but let’s be honest, I could’ve scored in that position. 2-1 MNUFC.
• HOT TAKE: Maybe you shouldn’t play Brandon Vincent as a centerback. Just my opinion!!
• Almost 3-1 there. Nicholson’s close-range shot goes over the bar. Ugh.
• Remember last season when the Fire were good? When a draw against weaker opposition wasn’t the best we could hope for? That was nice.
• Katai comes off for Daniel Johnson. I don’t know how to interpret that move except as a white flag.
• Gonna start a band called Tears For Mears.
• Alan Gordon, noted homophobic slur enthusiast, has checked into the game. He replaces Solignac.
• MNUFC are getting a lot of play from the right and the Fire are hanging on mostly through dumb luck. This is dismal.
• Drew Conner replaces Rafael Ramos.
• Vincent, currently trying out his striker impersonation, nearly gets a header past Lampson.
• Four minutes of stoppage time. The Fire are trying to squeeze blood from a stone here, but it’s too little too late.
• Stay in your goddamn box, Sanchez.
• Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Final score: MNUFC 2-1 CF97
• Final Whistle Thought: 2017 is looking more and more like a fluke.

Stay tuned for more postgame coverage and a full recap here on Hot Time In Old Town. In the meantime, join the conversation in the comments or on social media.