BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 1, 2016) – Chicago Fire midfielder John Goossens scored his first MLS goal in the 58th minute and the Men In Red earned their fifth clean sheet of the season, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes, 1-0, at Toyota Park Friday night.
Match Highlights | Match Stats
The first golden chance of the match for either side came in the 39th minute after San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham mishandled a corner kick from Goossens. The ball eventually sat in front of Kennedy Igboananike with his back to the goal. Igboananike turned and whipped a shot toward the upper corner, but it darted over the target. Igboananike had another effort blocked by Bingham five minutes later after the Nigerian crushed a shot from the left side of the box.
Chicago came out on the offensive in the second half as well. Two minutes in, Rodrigo Ramos slipped a pass for Igboananike that he hit on the bounce. The blast was bound for goal, but Bingham dove to push the shot away for a corner at the final moment.
Postmatch Reaction: Pauno | Ramos | Goossens
Goossens put the Fire in front two minutes before the hour mark. Earthquakes center back Fatai Alashe tried to clear with a header in his own box, but the ball only traveled as far as the edge of the box and Goossens’ left foot. The Dutch midfielder launched on the volley and watched his shot travel through Igboananike’s legs, off Bingham’s outstretched arm and into the net.
The Fire would need to see out seven minutes of second-half stoppage time to close out the win, ultimately doing so as goalkeeper Sean Johnson earned the clean sheet with a pair of saves.
The Men in Red return to action against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday, July 9. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago and 97.5 Poder.
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MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (2-7-5, 11 points) 1:0 San Jose Earthquakes (5-4-7, 22 points)
July 1, 2016 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 16,487
Scoring Summary:
CHI – John Goossens (unassisted) 58
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Simon Dawkins (caution) 10
SJ – Shaun Francis (caution) 50
CHI – Michael Stephens (caution) 53
SJ – Fatai Alashe (caution) 66
CHI – Nick LaBrocca (caution) 90+3
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson, Rodrigo Ramos (Michael Harrington 79), Johan Kappelhof ©, Jonathan Campbell, Brandon Vincent, Michael Stephens, Joao Meira, Khaly Thiam (Razvan Cocis 73), John Goossens (Nick LaBrocca 79), Kennedy Igboananike, David Accam.
Shots: 16; Shots On-Goal: 7; Saves: 2; Fouls: 16; Corners: 10; Offsides: 2
San Jose Earthquakes: David Bingham, Kofi Sarkodie (Chad Barrett 76), Marvell Wynne, Fatai Alashe, Shaun Francis, Alberto Quintero (Cordell Cato 70), Anibal Godoy, Simon Dawkins, Matias Perez Garcia (Shea Salinas 64), Chris Wondolowski ©, Quincy Amarikwa.
Shots: 6; Shots On-Goal: 2; Saves: 6; Fouls: 12; Corners: 3; Offsides: 0
