Fire Rain Over Galaxy

Chicago Fire 2-1 LA Galaxy

CHICAGO, IL—It had been 55 days since the Fire last won a match and also last scored more than once in a match. Maybe it was the rain, but the Fire would manage to do both in a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy—their first over the Galaxy in 14 years. The loss ends a nine-match winless streak for the Fire while the loss ends a six-match unbeaten streak for the Galaxy and drops them to fourth in the Western Conference.

It started inauspiciously for the Fire when VAR determined that Rafael Czichos had handled a ball inside the box. Riqui Puig would covert the spot kick in the seventh minute putting the visitors ahead. However, this wouldn’t be as long a night as feared as the Fire became the better team as the match progressed. 

The Fire also benefitted from a few fortunate bounces like the one in the 32nd minute as a botched clearance from Maya Yoshida went to the feet of Hugo Cuypers who netted his fifth goal of the season. 

LA would be punished about a half hour later for a cheap giveaway. Edwin Cerrillo errant pass went right to Brian Gutierrez who went down the other way and his shot would hit both posts before going in to give the Fire a lead for the first time since April 6th. 

This would be a lead that the Fire would hold on to as defense would do its part to ensure they wouldn’t match their second-longest winless streak in club history. 

It was a much-needed win for the Fire that will placate fans for at least a couple weeks. As for head coach Frank Klopas, he admitted it was ‘100% tough’ going through that nine-match winless streak, but his passion showed after the win during the post-match presser. 

“I see [the media]too, because this is our team and I love the team, and the city and the Club. And, you know, I can’t go out there because when the team doesn’t win, I have no problem when the fans get upset. But we work extremely hard. They come and see games and sometimes they don’t understand, it’s fine. That’s one thing. You can say that to me, but when I hear certain things about our owner [Joe Mansueto] and stuff like that, that to me is unacceptable because we have a guy here that’s given everything

to this Club. He believes in this Club, he believes in the city, and you know what? He’s put resources which we never had in his Club before. And now it’s our part to get it right. 

“So that’s the one guy, you can say, I have big shoulders, no problem. Say it, but know what you say, watch the game. Don’t be saying stuff; watch the game. Don’t be a fan; watch the game. So for me that’s what bothers me

when the team loses. Of course it hurts. Because I’m not here, it’s not like I’m going to a different city or a different club to be in a coaching job. You know, I care about the Club, there’s a history here. I played in this city way before the Fire ever existed. And I care all about the, everything about soccer in the city and about this Club. And I want it to be the best and I know we can’t. We haven’t gotten there yet, but we will.”

Brian Gutierrez was Man of the Match with his performance and seemed to be filling in the #10 role more confidently with Xherdan Shaqiri out with the Swiss National Team getting ready for Euro 2024. Klopas said that he set a target of 8-10 goals and ten assists for him.

“I think that’s a reasonable target. I think I can do it and I know I’m capable of reaching those goals,” said Gutierrez. “I mean it’s my third game playing under that [Number 10] role and I think as time goes on players like that have to have time and develop into that role and get a sense of it.”

The Fire will get to enjoy the win for a couple weeks before traveling North of the Border to take on Toronto FC on Saturday, June 15th. Kickoff is at 6:30pm on CT on Apple TV.

SCORING SUMMARY:
LA-Riqui Puig (penalty kick) 7
CHI-Hugo Cuypers (unassisted) 32
CHI-Brian Gutierrez (unassisted) 61

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Mauricio Pineda (caution, reckless tackle) 29
LA-Edwin Cerrillos (caution, tactical foul) 45+4
CHI-Fabian Herbers (caution, tactical foul) 74
LA-Mauricio Cuevas (caution, tactical foul) 78
CHI-Allan Arigoni (caution, tactical foul) 90+5

CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1):  #34-Chris Brady; #24-Jonathan Dean, #5-Rafael Czichos, #4-Carlos Teran, #27-Allan Arigoni; #23-Kellyn Acosta (#30-Gaston Gimenez 76), #22-Mauricio Pineda (#2-Arnaud Souquet 46); #21-Fabian Herbers, #17-Brain Gutierrez (#8-Chris Mueller 86), #7-Maren Haile-Selassie (#19-Georgios Koutsias 76); #9-Hugo Cuypers (#12-Tom Barlow 66)

Subs not used: #18-Spencer Richey, #16-Wyatt Omsberg, #37-Javier Casas, #19-Georgios Koutsias

LA GALAXY (4-3-3):  #35-Novak Micovic; #3-Julian Aude (#19-Mauricio Cuevas 72), #22-Martin Caceres, #4-Maya Yoshida, #2-Miki Yamane; #10-Riqui Puig, #20-Edwin Cerrillo (#37-Daniel Aguirre 72), #8-Mark Delgado; #18-Jonathan Perez (#9-Dejan Joveljic 59), #27-Miguel Berry (#7-Diego Fagundez 82), #11-Gabriel Pec

Subs not used:  #77-John McCarthy, #7-Diego Fagundez, #14-John Nelson, #24-Jalen Neal, #21-Tuckey Lepley, #25-Emiro Garces

EXPECTED GOALS:  CHI 1.0-1.7 LA
TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 11-12 LA
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 4-4 LA
FOULS:  CHI 16-6 LA
OFFSIDES:  CHI 0-0 LA
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 2-5 LA
SAVES:  CHI 2-1 LA

Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees:  Brian Dunn, Stephen McGonagle
Fourth Official: Jeremy Scheer
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR:  Peter Balciunas
Weather: Rainy and 66º
Attendance: 25,237
Man of the Match:  Brian Gutierrez (CHI)