Chicago Fire FC Falls 1

CHICAGO (Aug. 30, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC (8-10-8, 32 points) fell 1-0 to Western Conference rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10-8-7, 37 points) on Wednesday night at Soldier Field.

Despite the loss, the Fire held its place above the playoff line with 32 points, ahead of D.C. United and Charlotte FC who have 30 points each.

Chicago had several chances in the opening 20 minutes, including a 10th minute attempt by Kei Kamara that the goalkeeper deflected over the crossbar. In the 18th minute, it was once again Kamara with an attempt, as he hit a half-volley over the crossbar on a pass from Xherdan Shaqiri.

Vancouver struck first, however, with a 19th minute goal from Brian White. Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady was able to slightly slow the attempt and eventually hold onto it, but the referee ruled that the ball had already crossed over the goal line on the bounce.

The second half was an even affair, with the Fire having 61 percent of the possession and taking 10 shots. The Fire had a few clear opportunities, notably in the 78th minute when Arnaud Souquet and Shaqiri combined several times as they carried the ball into the right side of the 18-yard-box, but Shaqiri’s shot went straight to Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. Ten minutes later, in the 88th minute, Carlos Terán sent a long throw-in into the box where Kei Kamara flicked a header on goal, but Takaoka once again made the save.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago travels to Washington D.C. to face D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, Sept. 2 before entering an international break. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast live on Apple TV, streamed in English on wlsam.com and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.

Social: Twitter - @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram - @chicagofire | Facebook

Notes:

Box Score:Chicago Fire FC 0:1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Goals:VAN - White (10) (Gauld, 7) (WATCH) 19’

Discipline:VAN - Brown (Yellow Card) 58’

Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Terán, D Pineda (Souquet, 46’), D Czichos (capt.), D M. Navarro, M Haile-Selassie (Torres, 65’), M F. Navarro, M Doumbia (Herbers, 65’), M Gutiérrez, M Shaqiri (Koutsias, 78’), F Kamara

Subs not used: GK Richey, D Dean, D Omsberg, D Aceves, F Przybyłko

Vancouver Whitecaps FC: GK Takaoka, D Blackmon, D Veselinovic, D Brown, D Ahmed (Schöpf, 60’), M Berhalter, M Raposo (M Ngando, 79’), M Vite, M Laryea (Adekugbe, 68’), F White (F Córdova, 78’), F Gauld (capt.)

Subs not used: GK Boehmer, D Laborda, M Teibert, F Johnson, F Becher

Stats Summary: CHI / VANShots: 14 / 10Shots on Goal: 3 / 4Saves: 4 / 3Passing Accuracy: 85.4% / 85.8%Corners: 4 / 5Fouls: 13 / 14Offsides: 0 / 1Possession: 53.4% / 46.6%

Attendance: 9,187Referee: Ricardo Fierro*Assistant Referees: Logan Brown, Cameron BlanchardFourth Official: *Jon FreemonVAR: Geoff Gamble*Assistant VAR: *Robert Schaap