Chicago Fire 0:0 FC Cincinnati
2017 Lamar Hunt U.S.Open Cup
RECAP
Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire Head Coach
On the game:
“First of all, I want to congratulate Cincinnati for passing through to the next round, best of luck to them and a really fantastic game. I think the crowd was fantastic. We also want to say thank you to all our fans who came here and supported the team. Unfortunately, disappointed in the result. In the first half we were a team that was dominating and having a lot of opportunities but that’s what happens in these kinds of games. We didn’t expect anything but a difficult game and we were mentally prepared for that, we just weren’t clear, sharp on the ball in the final third when we created these opportunities. Now we have to adjust our goals. We wanted to win this competition, it’s important to the club and important for us to get trophies, and win trophies for our team, for our club, but now we have to move forward and we have to think about playoffs, that’s all that is left and now we have to understand that we have to keep working hard. The team is doing well but these kinds of defeats are good red flags for the team, we have to understand that we cannot relax, never in this sport can you expect that everything is done. You have to fight, you have to play, you have to understand that every game is different and you have to prepare for every opponent the best possible way you can. Once again, congrats to FC Cincinnati, best of luck and win it.”
Juninho, Chicago Fire Midfielder
On the game:
“We did a lot this game, created a lot of chances but we didn’t put balls inside of the net. We didn’t find net, and this night is one night to forget about and focus on the next game.”
On what to take away from this game:
“It’s tough to say now, I think our team did well most parts of the game, we had chances to win, we learn from this kind of loss. It’s tough but our boys, I’m proud of them, did everything they could to get a result and tonight was not our night, so let’s focus on the next one.”
Matt Lampson, Chicago Fire Goalkeeper
On the game:
”It’s incredibly frustrating, I don’t always to my job to the utmost of my ability but it’s very frustrating in a game like this to do everything that I could for 120 minutes and play against a team that puts 11 guys behind the ball and then tries to counter. They played it to perfection, their goalkeeper stood on his head. He had an incredible game. It’s very frustrating that we couldn’t put one in. I don’t know what the possession was but it was probably something crazy, and I think that in these types of games, this happens all the time. Unfortunately we couldn’t get the win, it comes down to penalties and it’s a lot of luck in penalties, but overall just incredibly frustrating and disappointed in this result. “
If there’s a sense of one-upsmanship between the goalkeepers in this type of game:
“There is kind of a brotherhood in goalkeeping. I know Mitch, he’s a great guy and it’s great to see him do well, but at the same time I want us to score. It’s not going to change how I do my job, I’m going to do it as best I can and I had to do my job well tonight to keep us in the game. No real one-upsmanship, I’m glad that he had a great game but ultimately I want to win and we couldn’t do that tonight, so he got the better of me and I wish him luck the rest of the season.”
