No Messi, but Fire Give Crowd Something to Cheer For

Chicago Fire 4-1 Inter Miami CF

CHICAGO, IL—Lionel Messi did not travel to Chicago with Inter Miami which disappointed those who paid considerable money to see him. His leg injury continues to preclude him from playing. Jordi Alba was also out, Leo Campana was being rested, and Thomas Avila was suspended. 

However, the 62,124 (minus a few no-shows) who came out to Soldier Field saw arguably the best 45 minutes Chicago Fire have played this season and a pair of braces by their Swiss contingent in a 4-1 victory. It was the largest crowd in Chicago Fire history beating the standalone record for a regular season or postseason match by a considerable distance. 

The Fire had opportunities to go up in the first half, but would take none of them as the Fire and Herons went into halftime goalless. It would not be goalless for long as four minutes into the second half, Fabian Herbers sent a low cross into the area that found an oncoming Xherdan Shaqiri for a powerful finish to put the hosts ahead. 

However, that lead would last just four minutes as Jonathan Dean was called for handball in the box and a penalty was given to the Herons. Josef Martinez converted the spot kick and the score was level. Miami had numerous chances to go ahead, but the two best chances came from Facundo Farias (missed wide near post) and Benjamin Cremaschi sending a screamer missing far post. 

Maren Haile-Selassie entered the picture in the 59th minute and three minutes later, stripped Robert Taylor of the ball. While his first chance was blocked, it came to Fabian Herbers who sent a low cross back to Haile-Selassie to restore the Fire’s advantage. Four minutes later, he would be on the end of a cross from Ousmane Doumbia to make it 3-1. 

Photo: Amanda Cortese

Gaston Gimenez forced another Miami turnover in their own third and he fed Shaqiri for his second of the match and the insurance goal.

With the win and results elsewhere such as Montreal drawing (late) and DC United losing at Austin FC, the Fire jumped to the eighth position in the playoffs and two points clear of ninth-place NYCFC.

For Fire head coach Frank Klopas, the hope after a win like this is that the fans who came to see Messi, saw that they have a team to root for here. 

“We talked about moments like this and opportunities that you have to grab,” said Klopas. “This game was sold out months ago. So I think we were looking forward to the match, obviously. I think stepping on the field and having a performance like this, I know the fans, a lot of them maybe came for the first time because they wanted to see also Lionel Messi and who doesn’t want to see him? He’s such a great player. Unfortunately, things happen, he wasn’t here, but I think that they saw a great performance from our team.”

Indeed, there were more than a few Messi shirts in the stands, particularly pink Inter Miami shirts with his name among those in Argentina and Barcelona shirts, but now the quest is to convert some of those to Fire shirts (which will be red in 2024). 

“I thought we did a great job to try it today,” said Fire captain Rafael Czichos. “But yeah, when you live in Chicago or in the Chicago area, and you are interested in soccer then you should support your home club. I don’t think that all of the people wearing pink were from Miami today so I hope that they’ll be there on Saturday or next season with a different color.”

The Fire will remain home to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday at 7:30pm CT on Apple TV. Miami’s hopes are fading fast as they are now five points adrift of ninth place Montreal with two matches to play. They take on FC Cincinnati in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday at 6:30pm CT. 

A great night for the Fire faithful and hopefully those who were disappointed not to see Lionel Messi may realize that the Fire may be playing their best soccer at the best time possible with two regular season matches left. 

For more of Amanda Cortese’s and Leslie Smith’s photos, click on link.

SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Xherdan Shaqiri (Herbers) 49
MIA-Josef Martinez (penalty kick) 53
CHI-Maren Haile-Selassie (Herbers) 62
CHI-Maren Haile-Selassie (Doumbia) 66
CHI-Xherdan Shaqiri (Gimenez) 73

BOOKING SUMMARY:
MIA-Sergio Busquets (caution, tactical foul) 42
MIA-Gerardo Martino (caution, dissent) 45
CHI-Jonathan Dean (caution, deliberate handball) 52
MIA-FAcundo Farias (caution, tactical foul) 90

CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1):  #34-Chris Brady; #6-Miguel Navarro, #5-Rafael Czichos, #16-Wyatt Omsberg, #24-Jonathan Dean; #26-Ousmane Doumbia, #30-Gaston Gimenez; #21-Fabian Herbers (#4-Carlos Teran 85), #17-Brian Gutierrez (#7-Maren Haile-Selassie 55), #10-Xherdan Shaqiri; #19-Georgios Koutsias (#11-Kacper Przybylko 69)

Subs not used:  #18-Spencer Richey, #3-Alonso Aceves, #27-Kendall Burks #37-Javier Casas, #23-Kei Kamara, #2-Arnaud Souquet, #4-Carlos Teran

INTER MIAMI CF (4-4-2):  #1-Drake Callender; #31-Kamal Miller, #27-Sergii Kryvstov, #32-Noah Allen, #2-DeAndre Yedlin; #30-Benjamin Cremaschi, #3-Dixon Arroyo (#7-Jean Mota 67), #5-Sergio Busquets, #11-Facundo Farias; #16-Robert Taylor (#22-Nicolas Stefanelli 67), #17-Josef Martinez

Subs not used:  #29-CJ dos Santos, #28-Edison Azcona, #43-Lawson Sunderland, #4-Christopher McVey, #41-David Ruiz, #15-Ryan Sailor #13-Victor Ulloa

EXPECTED GOALS:  CHI 2.83-1.80 MIA
TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 15-10 MIA
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 7-2 MIA
FOULS:  CHI 12-9 MIA
OFFSIDES:  CHI 4-3 MIA
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 8-3 MIA
SAVES:  CHI 1-3 MIA

Referee:  Joseph Dickerson
Assistant Referees:  Cory Richardson, Brian Poeschel
Fourth Official:  Tori Penso
VAR:  Allen Chapman
AVAR:  Gjovalin Bori
Weather:  Cloudy and 78º 
Attendance:  62,124
Man of the Match:  Maren Haile-Selassie (CHI)