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MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Rally for 2-2 Draw against Visiting Portland Timbers

March 31, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire rallied twice from one-goal deficits to earn a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers at Toyota Park on Saturday.

Bastian Schweinsteiger had two assists while Nemanja Nikolic and Brandon Vincent supplied the goals for the Fire (0-2-1, 1 pt.). The Fire trailed 2-1 late in the second half before Schweinsteiger picked Vincent out for a headed equalizer in the 84th minute.

Portland took an early lead thanks to a counterattack goal from Diego Valeri in the 6th minute. The Timbers capitalized on a giveaway near midfield, allowing Sebastian Blanco time and space while entering the attacking third. Blanco then slotted a pass to Valeri on the right and the reigning league MVP finished from there.

Nikolic equalized for the Fire five minutes into the second half. Schweinsteiger tapped a pass to Vincent on the left, and Nikolic slammed the ensuing cross into the net for his third goal of the season.

Portland retook the lead five minutes later. An Andres Flores cross found Blanco's head in the middle of the box, and Blanco nodded his shot inside the far post.

Vincent provided the final goal of the night in the closing minutes. Schweinsteiger took a throw-in from Drew Conner near the sideline, then sent an arching cross to the back post. Vincent beat his mark to win the header, bouncing his shot into the net for his first goal of the season.

Rookie midfielder Diego Campos made his first career MLS appearance, entering as a substitute for Aleksandar Katai at halftime.

The Fire return to action on Saturday, April 7 against Columbus Crew SC at Toyota Park. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. CT on MLS LIVE and Univision Deportes 1200AM.

Quotes:

Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire Head Coach

Opening statement

"First of all, I want to send a message to our loving fans. Thank you for coming today especially after two, I want to say not appropriate or not good performances we had, and it was very helpful to see them coming and supporting the team again in a game where we struggled. Where we had to fight back from the negative score and they are exceptional and great and I want to thank them. Also I want to send a message to our fans. It's the same actually what I said to our players. Get ready and prepare for a tough couple of months because we are far from the team that we were and it's going to take some time to fix it. We have to stick together and I want to make that clear. We have a good team but we are still not in the shape that this team used to play and that we showed in the past. The past is behind and what we have to do now is fix what we have in front of us and that's a difficult situation in terms of lack of confidence, lack of precision, and lack of clarity sometimes in ideas. But that's why we're here and I promise that we're going to fix it and I promise that in a couple of months I'll make a different balance."

On Bastian Schweinsteiger's performance in the back line

"I think we didn't start well and we struggled with the defensive line. We struggled actually to recover the ball and that became at one point very frustrating for everyone on the field because it wasn't clear exactly our defensive organization when we have to defend. After we switched to the different formation with Basti dropped in the line of three at the back, he did a fantastic job in organizing and giving proper instructions to our boys and from that moment, I think, except the opportunities we conceded because they were more our mistakes that, obviously, a great team like Portland will always take advantage of, I think we didn't have bigger issues in the game. Second half we opened very well. Adjustments worked well. Again, our team struggles defensively. Struggles to understand, to switch from being the team that has the ball to the team that has to defend and to switch to that urgency that is required, obviously, when you defend the ball and as soon as it gets closer to your goal you have to have more urgency and that's what we're missing. That's another thing and it's not that it's not addressed but it takes time. But we will fix it."

On the need to fix things after last year's success

"I think we switched some players. Some players left, new players came here. What has to be fixed is, as I said, the defensive performance is very poor. What has to be fixed is that, as I said, the past is behind us. So what we did in the past and the performances we had, they are not the present thing. Which means that we have to understand that if we don't have the right defensive attitude, if we don't help each other, if we are not organized and from there, from that shape, our defensive shape, we work to win our battles, our duels, and then help the teammate to do the same and then we work as a unit and we all move in the same shape constantly until we win the ball. That's what we are missing. That's what I see on the field. I see that there is a lack of connection, lack of communication, and that has to be fixed and I addressed that. Difficult decisions are coming. And we made some mistakes. I made mistakes and I have to fix it."

On the "tough decisions"

"What I mean by tough decisions is that I speak very clearly to our players. We're breaking our elbows sitting and talking with them and showing them video and all that. If there is no return, if we don't improve, and I'm always looking for our methods and staff to improve in teaching and coaching and in all aspects. But if there's no improvement on the other side, to the bench, to the stands, and tomorrow to another place. We are not a charity here. This is professional soccer and whoever doesn't understand that you have to come here with the ability to learn, this is the type of environment we've created, because everyone on the entire staff doesn't sleep until they prepare the work for our players. Not until they finish what they're going to eat, in soccer terms, but also the food they're given here. We give our all. I'm not saying it's a lot but it's what we have and we want to see results. Demand, demand but you have to produce. When I refer to tough decisions, I'm very clear. Either you give your best, we get something in return, or you're no longer here."

On getting the first point of the season and on moving Schweinsteiger to the backline

"I'll answer your first question first. The point feels like, it doesn't feel like anything. Neutral. Totally neutral. If we have to take something positive because we ended up getting a point then so be it. But I only feel good when I win. The points sometimes do feel like victories and that's well known in soccer and I've felt it before and sometimes it's even given me a sweet feeling but today's point is very bitter. Answering the tactical question, in the past we showed that playing with Bastian in that role has functioned very well and today, not just today, we're going to need him to be in this role until our defense gains confidence, order and the fluidity that we're lacking. I don't think we're lacking offensive prowess. We score in every game. We have three games played and, if I'm not mistaken, six goals. So two goals per game is not bad playing how we're playing and creating chances. I think today we've created opportunities that were clear goal-scoring opportunities and if you look at it again, in that role, Bastian has managed to provide two assists. His capacity is tremendous and we are conscious of what we have in our team and his capacity continues to help us. Truthfully, I see it as something very positive."

On the performances of Drew Conner and Diego Campos off the bench

"Diego gave us a little bit more calmness with the ball. I think he found very good gaps and we connected very well with him that gave us that transition from our half to their half and in the final third also. The build-up in our first goal was related to that transition and that fluidity of our play and I think he understands very well how we want to play and in the preseason he did a very good job. We want to take his introduction to the team very carefully and stepping in just like we did with Elliot. We don't want to burn the young player but we also see and feel the desire that he has and wants to deliver to the team, our organization, and our fans. So we are very, at this point, happy with the progress and we expect that he also has a high ceiling. I think Drew matured a lot in the last three years. We feel very happy also that he can, as you could see, he played very well as a midfielder. We switched the formation. He played on the right side. He still has to learn some defensive principles in that position but, offensively and in the midfield, he can give a solid performance and keeping the concentration and working a little bit more on his decision making, I think he can be very helpful to the team."

Thoughts on the doubleheader with the Red Stars

"Well listen, I'll be honest. We have to win our game first in order to support the Red Stars to win their game and it's important, yes. It's important we have that connection, that relationship and the fans are coming more and more to our and their games and having this venue it's important to have that. We have to make this a temple of soccer, this team and this place and we're trying. We're trying to do that. So that's why it's important to have doubleheaders and we hope to have more in the future. But it's also, and I've said it in the past, it's coming from the team. It's coming from who we are and how we play. We cannot just organize doubleheaders and expect the people to come. Teams have to play real football and leave the people after the game with a sensation that they want to come back. I don't think that we did that today. I don't think that we did that the last time and coming back to our performance again, we have to work to get to that level that we were and what we showed was exciting. But now we aren't there and we have to fix it."

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Chicago Fire Midfielder

On earning a point

"When you are twice down and then you get the draw, it feels okay, but I'm not a friend of playing for a draw, I want to win. I think we should win these kinds of games but we're not there, to win these kinds of games, and that's why we have a lot of work to do."

On dropping back to the defense

"I think I play the positions where the coach thinks it's best for the team. I do like the position, it's a position which is very important with the ball, against the ball. It always depends on what's best for the team. When we decide to play this, I play there. But also other players can play there and I always have to find the space where I can receive the ball if it's on the right or left, so I try to hurry the game a little bit and depends always on the situation."

On contributing offensively from the back

"Yeah, that's also the point, even from there, it doesn't mean that you're just watching the game from the back line. We also should take the responsibility from there, but not only me, also other players that are playing from the back line and take the ball and drive in and play the first pass."

On the differences from last season

"Of course, we have also new players. The difference from last year is not easy to say but we have to work, we have to improve our technical mistakes in the game, happens too much, happens too many times that we lose the ball because of that. To play a smart ball, to be aware of some situations a little bit earlier, quicker thinking, all these things make a big impact for our game, and we have to work on that. It's going to be not easy but we have to be optimistic and we have to believe in ourselves, but first of all, work, work, work."

On Diego Campos and Drew Conner

"I think of course they did their job well. It's always good to have players who are coming into the game and bring an impact to the game. It's what you have to have in your team, and it was good to see."

Diego Campos, Chicago Fire Midfielder

On making his professional debut

"It's great finally, to be able to make my debut. Great group of guys, great staff. Just excited to play."

On the personnel changes in the second half

"We knew we needed more energy. That's why we made a couple subs in the second half just to bring more energy to come out. We knew that they were going to sit back a little bit so that was the plan, try to approach in the box and try to get crosses in the box so we could score."

--

Chicago Fire 2:2 Portland Timbers

March 31, 2018 - Toyota Park

Attendance: 13,678

Scoring Summary:

POR - Diego Valeri (Sebastian Blanco) 6'

CHI - Nemanja Nikolic (Brandon Vincent, Bastian Schweinsteiger) 50'

POR - Sebastian Blanco (Andres Flores) 55'

CHI - Brandon Vincent (Bastian Schweinsteiger) 84'

Misconduct Summary:

CHI - Aleksandar Katai (caution) 12'

POR - Diego Valeri (caution) 52'

Chicago Fire: Richard Sanchez; Kevin Ellis (Alan Gordon 75'), Johan Kappelhof, Christian Dean, Brandon Vincent; Dax McCarty ©, Tony Tchani (Drew Conner 59'); Elliot Collier, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Aleksandar Katai (Diego Campos HT); Nemanja Nikolic.

Shots: 12; Shots On-Goal: 3; Fouls: 9; Saves: 1; Offsides: 5; Corners: 7.

Portland Timbers: Jake Gleeson; Marco Farfan (Vytautas Andriuskevicious 82'), Larrys Mabiala, Bill Poni Tuiloma, Zarek Valentin; Diego Chara, Andres Flores (Julio Cascante 87'), Christhian Paredes; Diego Valeri ©, Sebastian Blanco; Fernando Adi (Samuel Armenteros 90+1').

Shots: 8; Shots On-Goal: 3; Fouls: 9; Saves: 1; Offsides: 2; Corners: 2.

Check out the Chicago Fire FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from March 31, 2018


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