The Chicago Fire suffered their third consecutive defeat after losing in their visit to FC Dallas, 3-1 Saturday with most of their starters getting the night off in the third of four games in a 12-day stretch.
“A game to forget. We move forward. Our guys gave their best. That’s it. No further thoughts on the game,” said head coach Veljko Paunovic.
“It’s always difficult when you lose and we always try to win the games no matter the squad rotations. Our guys always go out and try to win and today wasn’t the day. We have to recover and prepare for the next game on Wednesday.”
Paunovic made eight changes in relation to the lineup that started midweek against the Philadelphia Union with another midweek game coming up in mind, this Wednesday against Louisville City in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals at Toyota Park.
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Rookie Jon Bakero received his first MLS start after being an unused sub against the Union, playing 45 minutes before being subbed off at halftime in favor of Brandt Bronico. Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell and Richard Sanchez were the only repeat starters for the Fire.
Chicago’s alternative XI struggled mightily in the first half, unable to produce a single shot on Jesse Gonzalez’s goal and having problems containing an FC Dallas attack built from the wings in while seeking numbers advantage in Sanchez’s box.
Such was the way by which the first goal came in the 27th minute. Reggie Cannon sent a cross from the right side, finding an open Carlos Gruezo between the six-yard line and the penalty spot who finished as Fire defenders watched on.
The inclusion of Bronico and Aleksandar Katai in the second half gave the Fire some offensive life, as the visiting side come close to evening the score on a couple of occasions early on in the second half.
However, the little momentum built by the Fire was killed after losing Drew Conner to a red card after seeing his second yellow card in the 70th minute. Four minutes later, Kellyn Acosta sent a left-footed past Sanchez to make it 2-0 before Campbell gave up a penalty kick that Reto Ziegler converted in the 81st.
Bronico, the most active player for the Fire in the 45 minutes he played, scored the team’s only goal of the night, a right-footed shot past the diving Gonzalez in the 86th minute for the final 3-1 result.
“On the first chance, I thought it was in, but it went wide and I thought I blew my chance. On the second chance, the ball dropped at my feet, I turned, hit it and it went in,” said Bronico.
“It all happened so fast. I was happy that I scored, but unfortunately we lost the game so that killed the vibe a little bit. I’m happy with the goal nonetheless.”
The loss increases the gap with sixth-place Montreal Impact to four points in the Eastern Conference standings. They will return home for Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup fixture against Louisville City.