Portland Timbers FC vs. Chicago Fire
Aug. 7, 2015 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Final: Timbers 1, Chicago Fire 0
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Yallop
On the overall match…
“I think we deserved to at least get a tie tonight. I thought we created enough chances, we pushed on in the second half. [I’m] just disappointed to come away with no points but that’s the way our luck sort of seems to be going away from home. I thought our general play was pretty good without the final touch which was lacking I think for us. For us, we’re usually pretty good around the box just that final pass and finish was not quite there tonight.”
On if there is an injury update for Fire forward David Accam…
“No. A tight hamstring so I don’t know how he’s feeling but we’ll know probably more tomorrow.”
On if there should have been penalty kick for Igboananike and if the MLS should have instant replay…
“I’d like to see it again to be honest. I thought Kennedy [Igboananike] got clipped for the penalty kick but I haven’t seen it again. I would probably have thrown a flag on that play, just to see it again. I think it’s a good idea because it’s a crucial moment in the game. If that’s a penalty kick and he doesn’t call it but the video helps him make the decision, we probably score and get something out of the match but we don’t. I haven’t seen it againand everyone is going to drive home and nobody knows if it’s a penalty until they see it tomorrow.”
On if he has thoughts on how instant replay should be implemented…
“I haven’t thought about it. I think video evidence needs to be in the game because again crucial moments in the match wins or loses you the game. I think tonight is not a bad start with it if we could have done it but again I don’t really have deep thoughts on it right now.”
On the defensive effort of the team tonight…
“I thought our shape was good, our demeanor was great. We had one play where [Diego] Valeri shoots and Sean [Johnson] makes the save and then it goes into [Fanendo] Adi and goes in the net. It’s kind of one of those plays, I think everyone is in pretty good spots and it just kind of ricocheted straight to them and it just hits him and goes in. Kennedy had a great header that just whistled by, the penalty kick, I thought Sean had a good effort going on goal. Our final pass just wasn’t quite there but in general I thought we defended well against a team that’s difficult to play against, especially on this surface at home.”
On what he is looking forward to when his team plays in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday….
“Winning. Hopefully, we can win. I mean we’re in the semifinal of a cup. We got one more hurdle to get through to be in the final and there is no better time to go now and on a Wednesday night to go and try to do that. We’re excited. We have to let this one go because I spoke to the guys today and they gave me everything they had. I thought the effort was fantastic. I thought we tried hard and gave 100 percent, we just didn’t quite get it done tonight but we’re going to now focus on Wednesday and try to get a result there.”
Chicago Fire defender Eric Gehrig
On the defensive performance of the team…
“I think one of things we’ve been stressing over the last couple weeks and one of the things that’s made us pretty successful is the team shape, not only the back four but the four in front of us and the strikers. I think we’re moving together. We’re holding the line. We’re keeping a good line going with each other. Everyone is fighting for each other [and] battling for each other. When guys go up for first balls there’s guys waiting to win the second balls. There’s just a lot of communication right now so, like you said, it’s unfortunate. [It was] kind of a bang-bang goal. You work your butt off [and] you take pride in keeping a clean sheet back there and to lose it on a goal like that is pretty heartbreaking. We’ll take our medicine and we have to bounce right back because we have a big game on Wednesday.”
On playing in the atmosphere of Portland…
“I always love coming to Portland. It’s one of the best places to play in the league. Unfortunately its turf but it is what it is and we’re not used to it. They’re playing on it too so it’s OK. [The stadium is] right down town. Kind of a historical stadium and the fans do it right. It’s very electric. It’s always, always loud, it’s never quiet and it’s a players dream really.”
On how the team bounces back going into the U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday…
“I think everyone is a little pissed off right now. I think that’ll motivate us going into the game Wednesday and I think there is a little bit more to be had in tonight’s game. I think everyone in that locker room will tell you we can’t wait to get back out there Wednesday. [It] can’t come soon enough. We’re going to watch some film on this game and also look forward to Philadelphia and hopefully get it right and put in a good effort on Wednesday because it’s a huge opportunity for the club.”
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson
On the overall performance…
“I thought we were extremely unfortunate to not come out of here with a result, or a point. It was a well fought game. I thought we possessed the ball well, especially in a tough place to play. Really, really unfortunate, I thought, with the goal. [There were] a lot of bodies in but [Diego] Valeri takes a shot, it deflects, I get a touch on it, it’s going, probably out the six, but Eric [Gehrig] and [Fanendo] Adi are standing there. Eric tries to clear [the ball], it comes off Adi and goes in the back of the net. [It’s] just unlucky. I don’t think you can really do much more. These things happen in the game of soccer. Could we be a bit better on the end of the ball? Yes. Could we be a bit better defensively? I think so. Do we play it well enough to get a result tonight? 100 percent. The guys fought hard over 90 minutes and really [I’m] gutted personally and for the team to not come out here with at least a draw tonight.”
On the team’s defensive effort tonight…
“I think our defensive line was great. I think we knew that [Fanendo] Adi is a big, strong guy that puts himself in good spots. [They’re] great at holding the ball up but once you keep them in front of you and then get compact against Portland, keep them going out wide I think it’s great. We just stuck with our game plan. I thought the back line played great, like I said, just unfortunate tonight.”
On how the team bounces back going into the U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday…
“I don’t think we really get too hard on ourselves after a game like this. Obviously, disappointing not to get a point but we have to be happy with the way we played tonight, with the fight that we showed and the ability to possess the ball away from home. [To take] it to a team like Portland, here, at their home ground which is one of the top three toughest places to play in my book. I don’t think we get down on ourselves. I think we keep chugging along, heads stay high that’ll be the message I’ll deliver. We just got to keep going and Wednesday’s is an important match. [It’s] a completely different game to what tonight will be and I think we’ll go out there and we got to get a job done. Got to get a win and got to get in that cup final.”
On what it would mean to make it to the U.S. Open Cup final…
“I think it would mean the world. Being in a position now where we’re one game away from the final I think everyone needs to understand the importance of this match on Wednesday. It’s going to be a battle but I think the tradition and history of our club is one that is used to winning in championships, especially Open Cups, dating back to the start of the club. We’ve got to uphold that tradition and come out and really go at them over the course of 90 minutes and win that game.”
