Rafael Czichos came off the bench to score just before halftime as the Chicago Fire held on for a 1-0 victory over visiting St. Louis City SC on Saturday.
It was Frank Klopas’ first regular-season victory in his third tenure as Chicago head coach. The Fire parted ways with coach Ezra Hendrickson on Monday, and elevated Klopas from assistant coach to the top job on a interim basis.
The coaching change seems to have motivated the Fire (3-3-5, 14 points), who played arguably their best overall game of the season. Chicago had the majority of scoring chances on Saturday, highlighted by Czichos’ tally off a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick in the 40th minute.
Shaqiri sent his free kick to the outside of the right goal post as Czichos raced around the St. Louis back line. His side-foot redirection gave him his second goal of the season, as the defender got just enough of a touch to beat goalkeeper Roman Burki.
Czichos had just entered the game in the 34th minute as an early substitute for Carlos Teran, who left the game with an apparent leg injury after a collision with Celio Pompeu. Teran also missed Chicago’s game against Nashville SC last Saturday with another leg issue.
St. Louis City (6-4-1, 19 points) was reduced to 10 men when John Nelson was ejected in the 70th minute following his second yellow card. Nelson will be suspended for St. Louis City’s next game, on May 20 against Sporting Kansas City.
Despite playing short-handed, St. Louis pressured late but couldn’t score an equalizer. It was a strong defensive display from the Fire, who have been plagued by late goals allowed all season.
Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady made two saves for his second shutout. Burki made five saves for St. Louis City.
The Fire are unbeaten in seven home games this season (2-0-5). Saturday’s victory snapped a four-game winless streak for Chicago (0-2-2).
After a 5-0-0 start to the season, St. Louis is 1-4-1 in its last six games.
–Field Level Media
