Sean Johnson cited the team’s “lack of discipline” as the Chicago Fire let their second consecutive 2-0 lead in New York slip, falling to a 3-2 defeat to the New York Red Bulls on Friday.
Their 2-2 tie at New York City FC on May 15 was built on the foundations of a spectacular first half which should have seen them well out of sight at the break. Once again, they were 2-0 to the good inside 26 minutes thanks to a Jeff Larentowicz penalty and a David Accam solo goal against a Red Bulls side they had the measure of in a 3-2 victory at Toyota Park just last month.
However, on this occasion Jesse Marsch’s Red Bulls rallied immediately, first through top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, and it was the Fire’s lack of defensive discipline that ultimately cost Frank Yallop’s men vital points at a critical time of the season.
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“[If] they win this game they’re going to move up the standings as well so for us it was a matter of staying disciplined,” goalkeeper Johnson told reporters after the game at Red Bull Arena. “I think that’s the main word tonight, was discipline, and that’s what we needed and we had a little lack of discipline on the defensive end of the ball, and going forward as well, so that cost us tonight.”
The Fire (7-15-6, 27 points) began the game with two debutants in defense, Daneil Cyrus and Ty Harden coming in to a new-look back four. But despite the new faces, some familiar problems resurfaced as the Men in Red failed to build on their positive start before eventually succumbing to a Red Bulls side which now sits comfortably atop the Eastern Conference on 45 points, one point clear of D.C. United with two games in hand.
Yallop was first to applaud the newcomers after their first outings for the Fire who, along with veteran captain Larentowicz, did their best to keep the likes of Wright-Phillips, Lloyd Sam, and Mike Grella at bay.
“I thought Daneil’s first game was good,” Yallop said. “I thought Ty Harden did well and Jeff stuck to his task well, so I commend those three guys to sticking with it and making it difficult for the Red Bulls, which is what they try to do. They didn’t have a ton of clear cut chances because those three guys defended well.”
The defeat in New York brings to an end a difficult three-game road swing which was supposed to make or break the Fire’s laboring season. With a defeat to the Red Bulls and in Montreal, along with a tie in Orlando, the quest for the playoffs remains a real uphill climb.
Once again, Yallop lamented his side’s inability to capitalize on the opportunities presented to his team. As it turned out, the Ghanaian livewire scuffed his shot and Grella pounced the other end to equalize two minutes later. Sacha Kljestan’s 71st-minute penalty put the nail in the Fire’s night.
“I thought we were dangerous on the break, we created some good chances first half, and had a great chance at 2-1 to go 3-1 with David’s break,” Yallop added. “We’re in every game, we look ok and we seem to concede the odd goal here and there that really costs us. And I think it’s no different tonight, we played not a terrible game away from home against a very good team that beat D.C. United 3-0. The guys are devastated they couldn’t at least get a tie out of it.”
Shane Murray covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com.
