Chicago Fire Start Slow, Lose 2-1 to D.C. United

The Chicago Fire couldn’t overcome an early two-goal deficit at SeatGeek Stadium and lost 2-1 to Eastern Conference rival D.C. United.

D.C. capitalized on two moments within five minutes when the Fire fell asleep in their own penalty area, securing enough goals to take home all three points before 30 minutes had elapsed in Bridgeview.

Andrew Gutman, who made his 100th MLS start, scored a sensational goal from 20 yards in the 54th minute but that was the Fire’s only strong on-target effort of the match.

Carlos Terán was charged with defending D.C.’s Christian Benteke but the Fire’s center back couldn’t deny the Belgian striker from scoring his 18th goal of the MLS season in the 26th minute. Mateusz Klich’s cross from the left wing flew just over the head of the airborne Terán and fell perfectly to Benteke, whose right-footed effort gave his side the 1-0 lead.

Klich helped create D.C.’s second goal as well. The former Leeds midfielder had the ball in the middle of the pitch before playing a pass to Gabriel Pirani just inside Chicago’s 18. Pirani danced around Terán and slotted his shot into Chicago’s net to double his side’s lead in the 29th minute.

Chicago’s first shot of the match came in the 40th minute and it was inches from going in the net. Kellyn Acosta collected a poor clearance just outside of the 18 and hammered a right-footed effort that deflected off the post, ensuring D.C. would take their 2-0 lead into halftime with them.

The Fire were the far better side in the second half but could only muster a single goal, albeit a beautiful one, against D.C. United for the second consecutive match.

Match Observations

The visitors had the first chance of the match and it came directly after a turnover by the Fire in their own half of the pitch. Brian Gutiérrez lost possession near midfield in the sixth minute and Cristian Dájome collected the loose ball before making a beeline toward Chicago’s penalty area. Dájome had plenty of space but his effort from just beyond the 18 flew harmlessly high of the net.

There was a moment in the 18th minute where the Fire completely missed an opportunity to generate an attack down the left wing. Andrew Gutman had snuck behind Cristian Dájome while Carlos Terán had the ball deep inside Chicago’s own half of the pitch. Gutman had acres of space and was shouting for the ball for what seemed like hours before the Fire eventually tried to generate an attack down the right side. One of the best aspects of Gutman’s game is his ability to create in transition. The Fire have to give him those chances before he will ever thrive with the Men In Red.

The biggest one-on-one matchup of the night was always going to be Carlos Terán against Christian Benteke. After doing well against the Belgian striker for the first 25 minutes, Terán made a mistake that allowed D.C. to take the 1-0 lead. Mateusz Klich had the ball on the left wing before hitting a cross into the middle of Chicago’s penalty area. The ball flew just over the head of the leaping Terán and fell perfectly to Benteke, whose on-target effort deflected off the foot of Wyatt Omsberg and into Chicago’s goal.

Things only got tougher for Terán after his side conceded their first goal and he was the defender who got burned for the visitor’s second goal of the evening. D.C. took a throw-in quickly on the left side and the ball worked to Mateusz Klich just outside Chicago’s 18. Klich found Gabriel Pirani just inside Chicago’s penalty area and D.C.’s number 10 danced around Terán before hitting a perfect shot to double his side’s lead in the 29th minute. Pirani showed a lot of skill to get around Terán, who couldn’t have scripted a worse five-minute stretch if he tried.

It wasn’t looking great for the Fire offensively before halftime but their first shot of the match was inches away from cutting their deficit in half. Gastón Giménez attempted to play a cross to Maren Haile-Selassie in the 40th minute that Pedro Santos attempted to clear with a header. The attempted clearance fell perfectly to Kellyn Acosta but his first-time right-footed volley rang off the post and away from danger.

D.C. outshot the Fire seven-one overall and had both of the match’s on-target efforts before halftime.

The Fire finally recorded their first on-target effort of the match in the 47th minute. Andrew Gutman made a strong run down the left wing before hitting a cross into the middle of D.C.'s penalty area that Hugo Cuypers won the battle for in the air. Unfortunately for Chicago, their number nine’s header flew right at Alex Bono, who made the routine save.

Tom Barlow came off the bench at halftime to replace Allan Arigoni and nearly scored an incredibly cheeky goal in the 50th minute. Kellyn Acosta collected a loose ball inside D.C.’s half of the pitch and immediately hit a pass to Barlow in the opposition’s 18. Barlow hit his first touch up, chested the ball down to himself, and hit a half-volleyed effort a few feet wide of goal. Barlow’s shot wasn’t that close to being a goal but it was an incredibly athletic effort from the forward.

Andrew Gutman made his 100th start in Major League Soccer and marked the occasion by scoring a banger in the 54th minute. Maren Haile-Selassie’s corner kick was only cleared to Gutman just outside of D.C.’s penalty area with plenty of space. The Fire’s left back chested the ball to himself and hit a perfect volley into the opposite corner of the net, cutting D.C.’s lead in half with over 30 minutes of regular time remaining. The goal is Gutman’s first with the Fire and second goal contribution with the club since joining in the offseason.