Unlike most Chicago Fire supporters, I don’t care about the Brimstone Cup. I can say that now because FC Dallas has lost the cup for the first time since 2001, and Chicago has picked up its first win over Dallas in Toyota Park. Given the new unbalanced schedule this year in MLS, this will be the one regular season meeting between the clubs. So there won’t be a chance for the Brimstone Cup to find its way back to Dallas until next season.
But it can’t be said that the win was pretty. Plagued with injury (David Ferreira, Ricardo Villar, Fabian Castillo, and Ugo Ihemelu), with arguably their best player suspended (Brek Shea), and winless over their last seven games coming in, Dallas was in a sorry state. Chicago had to feel their chances were strong. However, Chicago has yet to show consistency. From a certain point of view, the victory over Dallas epitomized this inconsistency.
I saw Dallas earlier this year when they played DC United and their play was woeful. Unfortunately, Dallas never really took the steps necessary to address the weaknesses revealed in that match—trammeling the midfield circle, they were entirely out-paced and out played on both wings. It turns out that Dallas can really only play centrally even though they have one of the brightest wingers in the US in Brek Shea and one of the few genuinely talented MLS fullbacks in Zach Lloyd. However, when faced with speed and creative forward play, Dallas quickly folds. Again, this must have given great hope to the Fire possessing some of the fastest attackers (Dominic Oduro, Patrick Nyarko) in the league and a couple of very creative midfielders (Marco Pappa, Sebastian Grazzini).
The match was relatively dull for most of the first half. It wasn’t until the last five minutes of the first half that the action arrived. A FC Dallas corner demanded a quick reaction from Sean Johnson who punched away of a bullet header. Yet the clearance didn’t take and rookie Matt Hedges pounced on the ball for his first goal of the season. Fortunately, Chicago responded immediately. Grazzini was able to collect a Pappa cross, slink across the center of the pitch, and unleashed a Goal of the Week shot from well outside the box. The strike sailed beautiful into the left corner of the net just out of reach of Dallas ‘keeper Kevin Hartman’s fingertips. It was a textbook highlight reel goal. And not a minute later on a free kick, Pappa nearly put the Fire ahead but Hartman was up to the task and consumed the strike. The growing understanding between Pappa and Grazzini is quickly becoming a centerpiece of Chicago’s attack. The Pappa/Grazzini (left wing/false number nine) pairing has complimented the Ghanaian duo of Oduro/Nyarko (forward/right wing). When Chicago’s attack gets going it can not only be deadly but it can be very entertaining football, yet it’s getting the attack primed enough to get to that point.
Coming out after halftime Dallas made two substitutions, removing high-profile centerback George John and slotting Lloyd in his place, a move that only highlighted the squad’s increasing frailty. The match was still anyone’s game though Chicago may have had the momentum. That momentum dissipated when Dominic Oduro tracked all the way back but failed to challenge with any finesse on Bruno Guarda, surrendering a penalty. Blas Perez stepped up but was denied by a fabulous save by Sean Johnson. The drama continued not ten minutes later at the other end of the pitch.
In the 61st minute Dallas defender Zach Lloyd (playing at centerback instead of his regular position of rightback) helped chop Marco Pappa down in the box, a clear penalty for Chicago. Grazzini came up to take the shot in hopes of making it a brace on the evening, but Hartman was able to save the shot. Dallas excitement was short lived as seconds after the save which Hartman wasn’t able to hold onto Pappa slotted the rebound into goal. In the space of thirty seconds everyone on the pitch, in the stands, and watching from home was either enraged or euphoric. Dallas was burned by the officiating—Pappa (number 16 in the photo below) was illegally in the area having launched himself off the line well before the PK was struck.
As a team that regularly looks for ways to go to ground and yet maintains a regular incredulousness when called for the frequent, needless fouls they commit, Dallas quickly became petulant over the remainder of the match. Midfield general Daniel Hernandez tried desperately to move the Dallas attack up but it didn’t pan out. Instead, the Fire routinely won possession and put together a series of high-paced, slick passing attacks. After a bit of souring in the media a week ago, where he complained about lack of playing time Rafael Robayo found himself starting in place of Pavel Pardo. Given the chance to perform it was left up to Robayo to make the case for further time. There were moments of brilliance. Robayo nearly made it 3-1 with a slick run and pass that drew Hartman off his line. It would have allowed Patrick Nyarko to score but the pass was just barely too strong and Nyarko missed getting to it by a step. Overall however, Robayo had a middling match and re-affirmed his position—that of high-quality substitute. The young pairing of Austin Berry and Jalil Anibaba held the line for Chicago even with Dallas turning on the pressure over the last ten minutes. On a wayward cross and/or strike from Blas Perez, Matt Hedges almost stole a goal in the 90th. Ultimately, though, Chicago held on much to the rage of Daniel Hernandez who left the pitch in a less than gentlemanly fashion.
And perhaps rightly so. Marco Pappa was at least five feet into the box before Sebastian Grazzini had made contact with the ball on Chicago’s penalty kick. How the call was missed is shocking. This season MLS have made it a point to have their disciplinary committee had out suspension and fines after the fact. It would do well to begin the process of officiating review. When goal-line technology is in place and has its kinks worked out, hopefully incidents like this will disappear. Not only do players need to know that their conduct is being monitored, but referees need to know too.
What Fire supporters saw in this match was a maddening display. Up until its last five minutes, the first half of play was wholly unsatisfying. It’s not a habit the Chicago squad should be allowed to get into, turning on its mojo only after being scored upon. Last weekend’s match against Portland was a sloppy affair which simply didn’t break Chicago’s way, the Dallas game did. Chicago’s second half play was slicker and more entertaining but the win is going to be soiled by the fact that the Fire didn’t win this game on their own.
(image courtesy of Total-MLS)
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