Chicago Fire FC Falls 2-0 to Houston Dynamo FC

CHICAGO (June 25, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC (3-8-5, 14 points) fell 2-0 to Houston Dynamo FC (6-7-3, 21 points) at PNC Stadium on Saturday night.

In 101-degree heat at kickoff, the Fire started the game strongly and came close to finding the opening goal on several occasions. In the 8th minute, Homegrown Brian Gutiérrez struck a perfect ball to an ongoing midfielder Stanislav Ivanov, who turned his defender and struck a shot that missed just wide. Ten minutes later, defender Carlos Terán found the end of a set piece that forward Kacper Przybyłko tried to redirect but was pushed out for a corner by Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark. 

Following the first half hydration break, it was the Dynamo who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute courtesy of Houston forward Thorleifur Úlfarsson. The 21-year-old Icelandic challenged Fire defender Boris Sekulić in the air off a cross from Memo Rodríguez that favored Úlfarsson, who then volleyed a shot that glanced off the foot of Carlos Terán and spun away from a diving Gaga Slonina. 

In first-half stoppage time, Slonina was called upon to make a reaction save after Darwin Quintero snuck inside the box and hit a close-range shot on frame that the 18-year-old Addison, Ill., native parried away. However, moments later, Quintero collected a cross in the box, took a touch around his defender and slotted the ball to the back post to put Houston up by two to end the first half.

The second half was highlighted by a pair of key saves by Slonina in the 60th and 85th minute of the match. Despite outshooting Houston 17-11, Chicago was unable to find a breakthrough goal. Slonina finished the match with three saves.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago will return home for a midweek match against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, June 29 at Soldier Field as the Club celebrates Pride Night . Beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT, the match will be televised on WGN-TV and CF97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.

Notes:

• Today’s match marked the first meeting between the two teams since Sept. 23, 2020 and the first match for the Fire at PNC Stadium since Aug. 3, 2019. 
• Defender Carlos Terán made his fifth start of the season and his first start since May 28. 
• Midfielder Chris Mueller attempted six shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a Chicago Fire player this season. 

Box Score:
Houston Dynamo 2:0 Chicago Fire FC

Goals:
HOU - Ulfarsson (2) 23’
HOU - Quintero (Lundqvist 4) (6) 45+3’

Discipline:
CHI - F. Navarro (Yellow Card) 38’
HOU - Rodríguez (Yellow Card) 41’
HOU - Steres (Yellow Card) 64’
HOU - Cerén (Yellow Card) 79’
CHI - Espinoza (Yellow Card’) 81’
HOU - Parker (Yellow Card) 90+2’

Chicago Fire FC: GK Slonina, D Sekulić, D Bornstein (Reynolds II 82’), D Czichos ©, D Terán, M Mueller, M Giménez, M F. Navarro (Offor 82’), M Gutiérrez (Herbers 45’), M Ivanov (Espinoza 59’), F Przybyłko (Durán 67’)

Subs not used: GK Richey, M Casas Jr., M Monis

Houston Dynamo: GK Clark, D Steres (Parker 70’), D Lundqvist, D Hadebe, D Zeca, M Vera, M Cerén, M Rodríguez (Parsher 70’), F Úlfarsson (Dorsey 87’), F Quintero (Carrasquilla 73’), F Ferreira (Avila 87’)

Subs not used: F Fernandes, D Bartlow, GK Nelson, D Junqua

Stats Summary: HOU / CHIHa
Shots: 11 / 17
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 4 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 86% / 83.6%
Corners: 5 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 14
Offsides: 3 / 2
Possession: 53.1% / 46.9%

Attendance: 13,801
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Tiffini Turpin
Fourth Official: Brad Jensen
VAR: Sorin Stoica