Atlanta United fell 2-0 to Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field Sunday night. Atlanta poured in 20 crosses while forcing Chicago to make 14 clearances on the night, but ultimately could not find the back of the net.
Chicago got on the board early when Fabian Herbers scored in the 7th minute. After a turnover near midfield, Gastón Giménez dribbled down the center of the field and found Herbers making a run on the right side. Herbers took one touch into the box before sending a low shot past a diving Brad Guzan.
Atlanta nearly equalized in the 19th minute. Jon Gallagher sent an early cross into the box from the right side which was slightly behind Adam Jahn. The 6-foot-3 forward turned his back to goal to receive the cross and took a touch on his right knee, sending the ball in the air. While holding off a defender, Jahn quickly struck the ball on a volley with his left foot, but Chicago goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth was able to make a diving save to his right which went out for a corner. On the ensuing corner kick Franco Escobar got off a clean header but missed inches wide of the right post.
Chicago doubled its lead in the 39th minute. Djordje Mihailovic found Robert Berić unmarked at the top of the 18-yard box where he took a touch into the box and scored with a shot to the left side of the goal.
Guzan came up with a pair of crucial one-on-one saves early in the second half to preserve the score. Berić was denied in the 50th minute from point-blank range after he was slipped in behind Atlanta’s defense. Two minutes later Mihailovic was played into the box and found himself alone in front of goal, but Guzan again pushed the shot out for corner.
In the 56th minute, Brooks Lennon sent in a cross from the right side to the back post where Jake Mulraney was unmarked, but his one-time shot was lifted over the crossbar. Two minutes later Gallagher delivered a cross to the center of the box where Jahn put a diving header on frame, but again Shuttleworth was able to get a hand to it which then ricocheted of the post and was cleared away by the Fire defense.
Atlanta United (4-8-2, 14 points) returns to action Saturday, Oct. 3 at Audi Field against D.C. United (7:00 p.m., FOX Sports Southeast, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game, La Mejor).
MATCH INFO
Atlanta United 0, Chicago Fire 2
Soldier Field
Chicago, Illinois
STATS
Shots: 15-9 Chicago
Shots on Target: 6-5 Chicago
Corner kicks: 4-3 Atlanta
Fouls committed: 14-9 Chicago
Clearances: 14-3 Chicago
Offside: 5-3 Chicago
Possession: 51-49 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 83-80 Chicago
SCORING SUMMARY
CHI – Fabian Herbers 7’ (Gastón Giménez)
CHI – Robert Berić 39’ (Djordje Mihailovic)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
ATL – Mo Adams 85’ (yellow card)
ATLANTA UNITED STARTING LINEUP
Brad Guzan; George Bello, Fernando Meza, Franco Escobar, Brooks Lennon; Jeff Larentowicz © (Mo Adams – 73’), Eric Remedi, Emerson Hyndman; Jake Mulraney (Manuel Castro. – 82’), Adam Jahn (Tyler Wolff – 65’), Jon Gallagher.
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Edgar Castillo, Laurence Wyke, Anton Walkes, George Campbell.
CHICAGO FIRE STARTING LINEUP
Bobby Shuttleworth; Francisco Calvo ©, Jonathan Bornstein (Andre Reynolds – 90+1’), Mauricio Pineda, Boris Sekulic; Ignacio Aliseda (Miguel Ángel Navarr – 80’), Gastón Giménez. Fabian Herbers (Brandt Bronico – 90+1’), Álvaro Medrán, Djordje Mihailovic (Elliot Collier – 79’); Robert Berić (C.J. Sapong – 67’).
Substitutes not used: Micheal Azira, Gabriel Slonina, Brian Gutierrez, Wyatt Omsberg.
OFFICIALS
Kevin Stott, (referee), Eric Weisbrod, (assistant), Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein, (assistant), Lukasz Szpala, (fourth), Chico Grajeda (VAR).
TEAM NOTES
- Jeff Larentowicz made his 431st MLS Regular Season appearance, second all-time by a field player in MLS history behind Kyle Beckerman (493).
- Larentowicz also started his 392nd MLS Regular Season match, third all-time by a field player behind Kyle Beckerman (459) and Chad Marshall (404).
- Brooks Lennon made his 100th MLS appearance, 86 of which came with Real Salt Lake.
