The Chicago Fire kept a clean sheet against one of the hottest offensive teams in Major League Soccer Sunday, and their defensive efforts did not go unnoticed around the league.
MLS on Monday released its Team of the Week for Week 22, with Chicago’s Eric Gehrig and Matt Polster each earning selection for the first time this season. In a week in which an MLS single-day record 39 goals were scored on Saturday, Chicago remained the only club with two representatives in the first XI after toppling league-leading FC Dallas, 2-0.
Gehrig, who has gone 90 minutes in eight straight regular season games, put in another rock-solid performance Sunday with a team-high six tackles and 10 clearances. Polster topped the Fire with 34 passes, starting in the midfield and moving to right back after an injury to Lovel Palmer. The two first-year members of the Fire helped hold FC Dallas to three shots on target for the entire match.
WATCH: Match Highlights
Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson was added to the bench after his 31st career regular season shutout. He recorded three saves, two of them coming in the final 10 minutes as FC Dallas sought to earn a road result.
Jeff Larentowicz was named to Bleacher Report’s MLS Team of the Week after putting in what Chicago head coach Frank Yallop called “a captain’s performance.” In his first appearance since June 24, he put in a 90-minute performance in which he seemed to grow stronger as the game went on. The benefits of his leadership also showed in top-notch communication between the members of the back line and Johnson.
Johnson and David Accam were added to the bench of Bleacher Report’s team. Accam fought past FC Dallas’ Matt Hedges in the fourth minute and slotted what would be the game-winning goal through the legs of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. It was his fifth goal in eight matches.
The Fire will be back in action Friday at Portland Timbers. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on UniMas.
