Chicago Fire FC Goals: Salétros 55', Haile-Selassie 87'Â
New York City FC Goals: Wolf 19'Â
Quick Read
New York City FC suffered a narrow 2-1 road defeat to Chicago Fire FC on Saturday. Hannes Wolf gave the Boys in Blue an early lead with a 19th-minute finish. Chicago were reduced to 10 men before halftime but equalized early in the second half through Anton Salétros. Maren Haile-Selassie scored a late winner for the hosts.
Match Recap
New York City FC were on the road Saturday to take on Chicago Fire FC.
Pascal Jansen’s side returned to action after the extended international break, with Alonso MartÃnez back in the starting XI for the first time since suffering an injury in last year’s playoffs.
MartÃnez tested Chris Brady in the third minute, drawing an early save. AgustÃn Ojeda had a chance of his own in the 11th minute, but his effort did not trouble the Chicago goalkeeper. A minute later, Mbekezeli Mbokazi sent an attempt wide for the hosts.
After a bright start, New York City took the lead in the 19th minute with a well-worked counterattack. AgustÃn Ojeda sent a low cross into the box, and Hannes Wolf took a touch before curling a delightful finish past Brady.
Two minutes later, more good attacking play down the right gave Nico Fernández Mercau a chance to send a cross toward the near post. MartÃnez made contact, but his effort went wide.
Chicago threatened in the 26th minute. Jack Elliott headed wide, Robert Lewandowski also missed with a header, then Dje D’Avilla forced a save from Matt Freese.
Just before the half-hour mark, Fernández Mercau tried to add to his collection of memorable strikes with a shot from distance, but the ball sailed just wide of the target.
MartÃnez continued to look for a goal. After composed play from Tayvon Gray at the back, the defender clipped a ball into space for the forward to chase. MartÃnez collected it and got a shot away, but a deflection took much of the power off the attempt.
Chicago were still searching for an equalizer, and in the 40th minute, Philip Zinckernagel tried his luck from distance.
The hosts’ hopes of leveling the score before halftime took a blow when D’Avilla received a second yellow card for a late tackle on James Sands.
Jansen made one change at halftime, bringing on Kevin O’Toole for Nico Cavallo at fullback.
Chicago threatened from set pieces early in the second half, but Thiago Martins and Aiden O’Neill combined to clear the danger.
The pressure paid off in the 55th minute when Anton Salétros ghosted into the box and headed Maren Haile-Selassie’s cross past Freese.
Buoyed by the goal, Chicago went in search of a second and nearly found it through Haile-Selassie. Martins blocked his attempt, then Freese made a save with his face to deny Lewandowski after the forward’s effort was ruled offside.
Jansen made two changes on the hour mark, bringing on Raul Gustavo and Luighi for MartÃnez and Andrés Perea. The substitutions also prompted a tactical shift, with Sands moving into midfield.
New York City came close to earning a penalty after O’Neill made a driving run down the right and was brought down by Mbokazi. The resulting free kick came to nothing.
In the 72nd minute, a smart overlapping run from O’Toole gave him space to send in a cross, which Chicago headed behind for a corner.
New York City made two more changes in the 75th minute, with Bénie Traoré and Jonny Shore replacing Sands and Ojeda. Ojeda’s substitution came under concussion protocol.
The team’s final change came soon after, with Malachi Jones replacing Wolf.
Seconds later, New York City came agonizingly close to a second goal when Gustavo rose highest to meet a corner, but his powerful header flew just wide.
The visitors threatened again in the 85th minute. A brilliant run from Jones ended with a cross across the face of goal, but no teammate was there to turn it home.
Chicago responded with a shot from Puso Dithejane that Freese did well to turn around the post. New York City’s reprieve was short-lived, though: Haile-Selassie intercepted a pass out from the back and fired home to put the hosts ahead.
In stoppage time, a deep free kick found Luighi unmarked at the back post, but his header lacked the power to trouble Brady. Fernández Mercau then had a chance from another set piece, but Brady made the save.
Despite fighting until the final whistle, New York City FC were forced to settle for a disappointing 2-1 defeat on the road.
How We Lined Up
What's NextÂ
Next up for New York City FC is a game against Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, October 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30PM ET.
