NYCFC Blow Lead Against 10-Man Chicago Fire in Brutal Road Defeat

New York City FC left Chicago empty-handed on Saturday. In a frustrating NYCFC vs Chicago Fire clash, Pascal Jansen’s men took the lead and watched the hosts go down to ten. They still lost 2-1 to a late goal from Maren Haile-Selassie.

It was NYCFC’s first game after the long international break. The result overshadowed the return of Alonso Martínez, who started for the first time since the injury he picked up in last season’s playoffs.

Martínez Makes an Instant Impact

Martínez wasted no time announcing himself, forcing Chris Brady into a save in the third minute. Agustín Ojeda’s 11th-minute effort failed to test the Fire keeper. A minute later, Mbekezeli Mbokazi sent a shot wide for Chicago.

Hannes Wolf Finishes a Slick Counter

NYCFC broke the deadlock in the 19th minute. A quick counterattack ended with Ojeda sliding a low ball into the box. Hannes Wolf controlled it and bent a beautiful finish beyond Brady.

New York kept pushing. Nico Fernández Mercau whipped a near-post cross from the right in the 21st minute, but Martínez couldn’t keep his touch on target. Just before the half-hour, Fernández Mercau went looking for another highlight-reel goal from distance, only to see it drift wide. Martínez then chased a clever ball from Tayvon Gray, but a deflection robbed his shot of its power.

Chicago Fire Reduced to Ten Men

The Fire had their moments too. In the 26th minute, Jack Elliott and Robert Lewandowski both headed off target, and Dje D’Avilla’s shot forced Matt Freese into a save. Philip Zinckernagel tried his luck from range in the 40th minute. The real blow for the hosts came soon after, when D’Avilla picked up a second yellow card for a late challenge on James Sands.

Jansen made one change at the break, sending on Kevin O’Toole for Nico Cavallo at fullback.

Salétros Levels the Score

Chicago started the second half with several dangerous set pieces, but Thiago Martins and Aiden O’Neill cleared the danger. The breakthrough came in the 55th minute. Anton Salétros slipped into the box unnoticed and headed in a Haile-Selassie cross to make it 1-1.

The Fire kept pressing. Martins blocked a Haile-Selassie shot, and Freese took one to the face to stop Lewandowski, though the flag had already gone up for offside.

NYCFC Rotate and Push for a Winner

Around the hour mark, Raul Gustavo and Luighi replaced Martínez and Andrés Perea, and Sands moved into midfield. O’Neill then drove down the right and was brought down by Mbokazi. It was close to a penalty, but the free kick led nowhere.

In the 72nd minute, a smart overlapping run from O’Toole created room for a cross, which Chicago headed behind for a corner. Bénie Traoré and Jonny Shore came on for Sands and Ojeda in the 75th minute, with Ojeda leaving under concussion protocol. Malachi Jones soon replaced Wolf.

Gustavo almost restored the lead moments later, rising highest at a corner, but his header flew just wide.

Haile-Selassie Delivers the Killer Blow

In the 85th minute, Jones carved out a brilliant run and sent a cross along the face of goal, but no teammate got there. Chicago hit back through Puso Dithejane, whose shot Freese did well to turn around the post. New York’s relief didn’t last. Haile-Selassie intercepted a pass out from the back and fired home to put the Fire in front.

In stoppage time, Luighi was left unmarked at the back post from a deep free kick, but his header lacked the power to trouble Brady. Fernández Mercau then had a chance from another set piece, and Brady saved it.

Final Score

Despite battling to the end, New York City FC fell 2-1 in Chicago. They had led, and they had a man advantage for the whole second half.