Chicago-fire.com
Last week,
the Chicago Fire welcomed the newly conceived Montreal Impact to the MLS in
style, coming out with a 1-1 draw.
Tonight, the Chicago Fire opened up their home front to the challenge of
a struggling Philadelphia Union, who have yet to see a positive result in two
games.
Six minutes
into the game, Chicago Fire had their first chance at goal when Marco Papa drew
a foul near the top of the 18 yard box.
Pável Pardo lined up a beautifully curved free kick to the back post,
missing just wide. Philadelphia Union’s goal keeper, Zac MacMath, has proven to
panic under pressure, so the Fire were sure to keep the pressure on.
Chicago
Fire’s Paolo Tornaghi showed his strength between the posts when the Union
launched in their first corner kick, punching it away in heavy traffic. The Union’s attacks on goal in the
first half were few and infrequent—sending two unsuccessful attempts towards
goal. The Fire sent nine in the
Union’s way in the first half, finishing one off the head of Dominic Oduro in
the 28th minute. The
wonderfully headed goal was supplied by the foot of Marco Pappa.
The Fire
almost doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Patrick Nyarko, Marco
Pappa, and Dominic Oduro almost connected, finding space in the box. This was thwarted by Union’s Zach
MacMath when he came off his line to snatch the through ball which would have
led to an easy goal.
The second
half saw the Fire lay siege to Union.
Marco Pappa almost opened up his season tally in
the 66th minute, but he banged a powerful shot off the right
post. The waning minutes of the
match saw the Union heating up.
Paolo Tornaghi came up big on multiple occasions, knocking away dangers
free kicks and shots from Gabriel Gomez.
The Italian keeper’s late-game heroics earned him the Miller Lite Man of
the Match.
The Chicago
Fire almost nabbed an 88th minute goal, but Zach MacMath’s diving
effort denied a strong counter attack from substitute Daniel Paladini and the
Ghanaians Oduro and Nyarko, keeping the match close at 1-0.
The match
ended with the Fire holding on 1-0.
The Fire, who were plagued with a plethora of ties last year, matched
their home victories from last year in their 2012 home opener. Tonight’s victory earns the Fire a
third place seat in the MLS Easter Conference with four points. The Fire will be looking to continue
their winning ways when they face off against Colorado Rapids April 1st
at Colorado.
Written by Matt Sinacore.
Matt Sinacore is Chief in Editor at Focus Football
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