Hot Time In Old Town - 2020 MLS Coverage: Chicago Fire vs DC United
TRADITION - HONOR - PASSION
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2020-10-11T21:42:09-05:00
http://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/rss/stream/21273223
2020-10-11T21:42:09-05:00
2020-10-11T21:42:09-05:00
Holding on at Home: Chicago Fire defeat D.C. United 2-1
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<figcaption>CJ Sapong celebrates after scoring the opening goal for the Fire | Chicago Fire FC</figcaption>
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<p>After goals from CJ Sapong and Boris Sekulić, the Fire beat D.C. United, moving back into a playoff position</p> <p id="ZHnQq6">It certainly wasn’t pretty like some of the other <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com">Chicago Fire</a> home wins this season, but it counted just the same. The <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Fire</a> struggled at times, but were able to score twice off set pieces to defeat a bad <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com">D.C. United</a> side, earning three crucial points at home. </p>
<p id="IlynYa">With the 2-1 victory, Chicago moved to 9th place in the MLS Eastern Conference, putting them back into a playoff spot with six matches to play. D.C., which remains in last place in MLS, played the match without longtime coach <span>Ben Olsen</span>, who was fired last week after a decade in charge.</p>
<p id="VQGc7W">“We knew it’s going to be not pretty,” Fire Head Coach Raphael Wicky said after the match. “It’s a tough opponent, and whenever a team has a coaching change, you know they have a little bit of a boost.”</p>
<p id="9KB5mK">The Fire wasted no time taking the lead. In the third minute, Álvaro Medrán sent a free kick into the box. <span>CJ Sapong</span> was able to put it away, making it 1-0 Chicago. For Sapong, who spent a lot of time away from the team after the premature birth of his daughter, it was his first 90 minute performance in months.</p>
<p id="GCqQdD">“For me, it’s a personal achievement to able to come in, to start after I haven’t started for awhile, and that goal was, I think, just a testament to the work that I’ve put in,” Sapong said. “I do have a lot of things going on, and soccer is my escape, my channel to happiness.” </p>
<p id="EK6GmR">The match featured several non-regular starters. Besides Sapong, who got the start on the left side of the attack in place of Ignacio Aliseda, Przemyslaw Frankowski was back in the XI in place of <span>Djordje Mihailovic</span>, who was injured for the match. Micheal Azira got the nod in central midfield, and <span>Wyatt Omsberg</span> started in place of <span>Francisco Calvo</span>, who was suspended because of yellow card accumulation. </p>
<p id="6nYHDw">“Some of the guys for seven months they didn’t have a game, other than one or two intra-squad games,” Wicky said of the new faces in the lineup. “And they did really well, so I’m really happy about that.”</p>
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<cite>Chicago Fire FC</cite>
<figcaption>CJ Sapong is hugged by his teammates after scoring the opening goal of the match for Chicago</figcaption>
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<p id="O5cTaj">After forty minutes of uneventful play by both teams, the Fire made it 2-0 when Medrán found Boris Sekulić unmarked on a 45th minute corner kick.</p>
<p id="NsJCtD">“I think we were very dangerous on set pieces the last couple games,” Sekulić said. “Today we scored two goals from set pieces. It’s a very important part for our team. We all know Gastón (Giménez, who is away on international duty) and Álvaro, they have a very good cross, so we are preparing very well, we are doing this every week.”</p>
<p id="8e64hc">D.C. pulled one back in the 56th minute, when Fire defender Jonathan Bornstein put one in the back of his own net trying to clear a deflected shot on a 4-v-3 counter attack. After that, D.C. launched a full out attack that kept the Fire on the back foot for much of the second half. The Fire were able to hang on, earning another victory on the Chicago lakefront.</p>
<p id="enEpEN">The Fire are scheduled to play on the road Wednesday at <a href="https://www.epluribusloonum.com">Minnesota United</a>. The Loons, who had two players recently test positive for COVID-19, had their Sunday match against <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com">FC Dallas</a> postponed. There’s another round of testing coming Monday that could determine whether the Fire are able to travel to St. Paul, or whether that match will be postponed as well.</p>
<p id="K7Qluq"><strong>Chicago Fire FC:</strong> GK Shuttleworth, D Sekulić, D Pineda, D Omsberg (D Reynolds II 75’), D Bornstein ©, M Azira, M Frankowski (M Aliseda 63’), M Medrán, M Herbers (F Collier 75’), F Sapong, F Berić</p>
<p id="bgu9Gz"><strong>Subs not used:</strong> GK Sparrow, GK G. Slonina, D N. Slonina, D Kappelhof, M Casas Jr., M Gutiérrez</p>
<p id="9vmvrm"><strong>D.C. United:</strong> GK Hamid, D Odoi-Atsem (M Paredes 80’), D Brillant ©, D Pines, D Mora, M Gressel (F Yow 83’), M Canouse, M Moreno, M Asad, F Sorga (M Flores 59’), F Rivas (F Kamara 59’)</p>
<p id="UA3TCK"><strong>Subs not used: </strong>GK Seitz, GK Edwards Jr., D Fisher, D Sjoberg</p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2020/10/11/21512091/holding-on-at-home-chicago-fire-defeat-d-c-united-2-1
Patrick McCraney
2020-10-11T20:36:54-05:00
2020-10-11T20:36:54-05:00
Chicago Fire 2, DC United 1: Quick & Dirty Recap
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<figcaption>Chicago Fire FC</figcaption>
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<p id="tV7LcH"><a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com"><strong>Chicago Fire</strong></a><strong> 2</strong> Sapong 02’ Sekulic 45+1</p>
<p id="nLOlkI"><a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com"><strong>DC United</strong></a><strong> 1 </strong>Bornstein (O.G.)56’</p>
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<p id="yNhh40">Here is your quick & dirty editorial-free recap of the Chicago home match against D.C. United. The Chicago Fire won by the score of 2 goals to 1. </p>
<h1 id="VjlP5q">02’ 1-0 Sapong </h1>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/BigAfrika88?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BigAfrika88</a> with the early goal for <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoFire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChicagoFire</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvDC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvDC</a> <a href="https://t.co/GnwTNCKH9S">pic.twitter.com/GnwTNCKH9S</a></p>— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1315437887844831232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2020</a>
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<h1 id="3jZJUe">45+1’ 2-0 Sekulic</h1>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sekulic heads it away! <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoFire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChicagoFire</a> double their lead just before halftime! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvDC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvDC</a> <a href="https://t.co/O0GHIWOHwn">pic.twitter.com/O0GHIWOHwn</a></p>— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1315448674604867586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a>
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<h1 id="0gWgBs">56’ 2-1 Bornstein (Own Goal)</h1>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> ️ ️<a href="https://twitter.com/Audi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Audi</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHIvDC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHIvDC</a> <a href="https://t.co/9Hol2UzDB0">pic.twitter.com/9Hol2UzDB0</a></p>— dcunited (@dcunited) <a href="https://twitter.com/dcunited/status/1315455961893605376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a>
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https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2020/10/11/21512022/chicago-fire-2-dc-united-1-quick-dirty-recap
Ruben Tisch
2020-10-11T08:45:54-05:00
2020-10-11T08:45:54-05:00
Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United: Gameday Guide & How to Watch
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<figcaption>Bobby Shuttleworth | Chicago Fire FC</figcaption>
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<p>The Fire are looking for another victory at home</p> <p id="9AAmT9">The Fire are back on the Chicago lakefront tonight, hosting <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com">D.C. United</a> at Soldier Field (6:30 p.m. CT, WGN & ESPN+). D.C., which is currently the worst team in MLS on 11 points, figures to be a good opportunity for the Fire to pick up three points, and climb back into a playoff spot. But with Chad Ashton in charge after <span>Ben Olsen</span> was fired this week, the Fire know they could be facing a team getting a “new manager bounce.”</p>
<p id="Y8QfN0">“I think anytime a team makes a coaching change, a player’s gonna want to make a good first impression with the new manager, and try to work themselves into a starting position,” <span>Bobby Shuttleworth</span> said in a video released by the Fire. “I think with D.C., they were always a hardworking team, and I think that’s what we can expect, a team that’s going to be difficult to break down.”</p>
<p id="qIZwFm">The Fire are currently 12th with 16 points, A win could put them as high as 9th, depending on how other results fall. The top ten teams in the Eastern Conference make the post-season, so with this a home match against a struggling opponent, getting three points is vital if the Fire are serious about grabbing a playoff spot.</p>
<p id="5guJ6F">Other News: </p>
<ul>
<li id="ir1J1B">The Fire are scheduled to face <a href="https://www.epluribusloonum.com">Minnesota United</a> on Wednesday, but that match could be in jeopardy. The Loons had two players test positive for COVID-19, so their scheduled match with <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com">FC Dallas</a> today has been postponed.</li>
<li id="f8kDwF">Gastón Giménez and Miguel Navarro are both still away from the Fire on international duty. Giménez played 81 minutes for Paraguay in a 2-2 draw with Peru on Thursday, and Navarro didn’t make the bench for Venezuela’s match with Colombia on Friday. With the two players potentially set to face each other this week, <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2020/10/8/21507055/a-history-of-fire-v-fire-internationals">Alex Campbell looked at all the other times Fire teammates have faced off in an international match.</a>
</li>
<li id="UDsamF">Will Fabi do it again? Fabian Herbers has goals in four of the Fire’s five matches at Soldier Field this season. In the only match where he didn’t score, he recorded an assist. <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/21504183/fabian-herbers-is-the-chicago-fires-new-fussballgott">Hot Time recently posted an in-depth interview with Herbers</a>, who explained how his childhood in Germany, where his parents owned a bar, prepared him for his playing career in MLS.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="4vvVWP">
<a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com">Chicago Fire</a> vs. <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a>
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<p id="aXsJbn">MLS Regular Season Match #17 | Soldier Field, Chicago</p>
<p id="9bOrah">Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. CT</p>
<p id="INk5mP">TV: WGN</p>
<p id="kgkKrF">Streaming: ESPN+ (<a href="http://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/482924/535105/9070?sharedid=HotTimeInOldTown"><strong>sign up using our link</strong></a><strong>, and help support Hot Time!</strong>)</p>
<p id="OF1BmQ">Radio: TUDN 1200AM</p>
<p id="d4YxWM">Live Twitter Updates: <a href="http://twitter.com/HotTimeOldTown"><strong>@HotTimeOldTown</strong></a> (from Ruben)</p>
<p id="g0gFp4">Next Up: <a href="https://www.epluribusloonum.com/">Minnesota United</a> vs. <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> | Wednesday, Oct. 14 | Allianz Field, St. Paul, MN | 7:00 p.m. CT | WGN & ESPN+</p>
<h2 id="PKHVEa">Chicago Fire Injuries</h2>
<ul>
<li id="r7VfB1">
<strong>OUT: </strong>GK - Kenneth Kronholm (torn ACL, meniscus tear 8/11, out for season)</li>
<li id="JDV1Rb">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - Luka Stojanovic (MCL surgery 7/23)</li>
<li id="6QY1kY">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - Jeremiah Gutjahr (knee injury)</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="9ioFil">D.C. United Injuries</h2>
<ul>
<li id="ff6ylV">
<strong>OUT:</strong> M - <span>Paul Arriola</span> (ACL surgery 2/24, out 9 months)</li>
<li id="ccAwek">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - Edison Flores (eye injury)</li>
<li id="uYaRPr">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - Felipe (ACL surgery 9/4, out for season) </li>
<li id="UzJFzS">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - <span>Mohammed Abu</span> (knee injury) </li>
<li id="Ep4FPw">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - <span>Ulises Segura</span> (not medically cleared) </li>
<li id="3vpoyH">
<strong>OUT: </strong>M - Kevin Paredes (not medically cleared)</li>
<li id="F1nFcX">
<strong>OUT: </strong>D - Steve Birnbaum (not medically cleared)</li>
</ul>
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https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2020/10/11/21511390/chicago-fire-vs-d-c-united-gameday-guide-how-to-watch
Patrick McCraney
2020-10-10T17:00:00-05:00
2020-10-10T17:00:00-05:00
Good Fortune: Chicago Fire vs DC United, MLS 2020 game 17 Preview
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<img alt="SOCCER: OCT 03 MLS - Atlanta United FC at DC United" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-kovKmIqJMX3DhiE0NZksmA91OM=/0x0:2700x1800/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67613292/1228946041.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Fire try to regain form against another bad team,</p> <p id="0BbY6f">The schedule the <a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com">Chicago Fire</a> have must have been a gift from MLS HQ for all the times they’ve screwed them over. In the middle of a playoff race that the Fire are desperate to compete in, they get to play another team with either a similar or worse record then them. While other teams are fighting tooth and nail and scrapping for every point, the Fire get to play teams like the <a href="https://www.dynamotheory.com">Houston Dynamo</a> and <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com">DC United</a>. </p>
<p id="5oDawP">The Fire have feasted on teams worse than them, Of their four wins that find them two points out of a playoff spot, three have come against teams around or below their record. Robert Beric has (up until last Wednesday) scored in 5 games in a row, kickstarted by playing against these below average teams. They’ve found their identity against teams like that, and are really just a few bad bounces away from a record that would have them close to the top of the conference. Things are looking up for the first time in several years at the club, and it’s really nice to watch it all come together. </p>
<p id="Boeply">The Men in Red have a chance to make something of the season, and beating up on teams like DC United is the first step, one that they’ve made before. </p>
<p id="jyvypP"><a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com"><strong>Chicago Fire</strong></a><strong> all-time MLS record vs </strong><a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com"><strong>DC United</strong></a><strong>: 20W-18D-23L, 89 GF/92 GA, 78 pts out of 183</strong></p>
<p id="07wpES"><a href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/"><strong>Chicago Fire</strong></a><strong> home MLS record vs DC United: 11W-12D-7L, 46GF / 33 GA, 45 pts out of 90</strong></p>
<h1 id="nvWJRw">Previously on… </h1>
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<p id="sFPKlH">DC are mired in chaos. They’re winless in their last six games and have lost their last four in a row by a combined score of 11-3. They’ve removed <span>Ben Olsen</span>, their longest tenured manager in club history, on Thursday. They’re in a really bad spot and are about to fall off the cliff, if they haven’t already. </p>
<h1 id="UhR4OF">Suggested Lineup</h1>
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<p id="qauT1d">This is not the lineup that I think is going to play against DC, but it’s the lineup I’d most like to see. Toward the end of the last match, it was clear that the constant games and minimal recovery time was taking it’s toll on the club. They were sluggish and tired and couldn’t take advantage of whatever they were given by SKC late on. Because of that, what I really want to see is almost a Full squad rotation. Andre Reynolds II is a promising prospect, and if there was ever a game to give him a full runout, it’s this one. Calvo is suspended for yellow card accumulation, and Carlos Terán is here and training, so you might as well give him a run out too. </p>
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<p id="EgOjZW">That being said, I fully expect them to run out this lineup. Kappelhof slots in for Calvo, and Bronico continues to start. </p>
<h1 id="Sd7o5j">Keys To The Match</h1>
<p id="cwVx5l"><strong>Control the Chaos</strong>: This is going to be another one of those games where the opposing team will inevitably lose concentration and give up scoring opportunities. They just fired their longtime manager and even before then, were a bit lost and were playing dreadful football. The Fire need to pounce on them exactly the same way they did against the other poor teams in MLS. Press high to force turnovers, make the simple passes when you have the ball, and be accurate in front of goal when scoring opportunities present themselves.</p>
<p id="HAL1uS"><strong>Better DM Play</strong>: It’s fair to say that <span>Brandt Bronico</span> did not play as well as Gastón Giménez would have had he not gone on international duty. Against SKC, The Fire central midfield looked less in control of the game without him, and the mark on the second goal KC scored would not have had much of a size difference. In order to regain the momentum the Fire had last week, Bronico (if he indeed is playing) needs to be better in all facets of the game. That 6 spot in the lineup is the most important position in the Fire’s scheme. They’re responsible for both stopping the opposing attack and starting the Fire’s attack. Bronico needs to step up and prove that he belongs in Wicky’s system. </p>
<h1 id="FAAhk2">How To Watch</h1>
<p id="ZtlSns"><strong>Television:</strong> WGN-TV</p>
<p id="79V4pv"><strong>Streaming:</strong> ESPN +</p>
<h1 id="M3LK2s">Final Thoughts </h1>
<p id="W2GD4J">The question isn’t if the Fire will win, its by how many, and weather or not they keep a clean sheet. It’s going to finish 4-1 to the Fire. </p>
https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/2020/10/10/21509382/good-fortune-chicago-fire-vs-dc-united-mls-2020-game-17-preview
Ruben Tisch