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| MLS: Chicago Fire v Philadelphia Union – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.55pm ET23:55 | |
| And that’s full-time: A last half of a half of a half chance for Union: a stabbed through ball that goes into Johnson’s arms. Fire get their first win of the season. It was deserved for their first-half performance after that they faded badly and a sharper side than Union would have punished them. | |
| Updated at 6.56pm ET | |
| 6.53pm ET23:53 | |
| 90 min+2: Union amble into the Fire half but the only result is a free-kick. | |
| 6.52pm ET23:52 | |
| 90 min: We will have three minutes of added time. | |
| 6.51pm ET23:51 | |
| 89 min: Edu is booked for a committed hack on Amarikwa. | |
| 6.47pm ET23:47 | |
| 86 min: Shipp, who has been excellent at times today, slaloms his way past the entire population of Philadelphia before crossing to Stephens. His shot is blocked though. What a run by Shipp though: brilliant close control. Hopenot is on for Wenger. | |
| 6.45pm ET23:45 | |
| 83 min: Amarikwa tries a curler into the top-right hand corner. Not a cuccessful attempt. Meanwhile, Ayuk comes on for White. | |
| 6.43pm ET23:43 | |
| 80 min: Nothing happens for three minutes. I think someone kicked a ball at some point. | |
| 6.38pm ET23:38 | |
| 77 min: Union have been the better side for the last 20 minutes and by far the better team since Fred was sent off. This does not say a lot for Fred. | |
| 6.37pm ET23:37 | |
| 75 min: Edu has a chance to equalise for 10-man union. He is in plenty of space, and Le Toux is supporting him. But he goes for the shot rather than that squaring it too his team-mate and the ball goes wide. | |
| 6.35pm ET23:35 | |
| RED CARD! UNION’S FRED | |
| Fred is tackled in midfield. He really doesn’t like this, so he slaps Shipp in the face. This not being a the prelude to a 19-th century duel, Fred is promptly sent off. Not the best sub appearance of all time. | |
| 6.30pm ET23:30 | 6.30pm ET23:30 |
| 69 min: Aristeguieta presented with a decent chance after another positive run from Wenger. But Aristeguieta slips as he shoots and the ball pings off into the stands. | 69 min: Aristeguieta presented with a decent chance after another positive run from Wenger. But Aristeguieta slips as he shoots and the ball pings off into the stands. |
| 6.28pm ET23:28 | 6.28pm ET23:28 |
| 67 min: Johnson comes out to claim a cross. It is at this point that I realise the Union keeper has not touched the ball up until now. Watson is on for Igboananike: a striker off for a midfielder. Union also make a sub: Nogueira comes off for Fred. | 67 min: Johnson comes out to claim a cross. It is at this point that I realise the Union keeper has not touched the ball up until now. Watson is on for Igboananike: a striker off for a midfielder. Union also make a sub: Nogueira comes off for Fred. |
| Updated at 6.29pm ET | Updated at 6.29pm ET |
| 6.26pm ET23:26 | 6.26pm ET23:26 |
| 65 min: That corner? Yeah, but nah. | 65 min: That corner? Yeah, but nah. |
| 6.25pm ET23:25 | 6.25pm ET23:25 |
| 64 min: Nogueira executes a smart turn, the best piece of skill this game. It doesn’t directly lead to anything but it is in the middle of a decent phase of possession for Philly and reminds us th they’re still only 1-0 down. And they have a corner. | 64 min: Nogueira executes a smart turn, the best piece of skill this game. It doesn’t directly lead to anything but it is in the middle of a decent phase of possession for Philly and reminds us th they’re still only 1-0 down. And they have a corner. |
| 6.23pm ET23:23 | 6.23pm ET23:23 |
| 61 min: Wenger again but the move ends in a stubbed shot wide. He’s getting into positions, you can’t fault his effort today. | 61 min: Wenger again but the move ends in a stubbed shot wide. He’s getting into positions, you can’t fault his effort today. |
| 6.20pm ET23:20 | 6.20pm ET23:20 |
| 58 min: Philly enjoy a brief jaunt into the Fire half. Wenger gets free on the right and crosses to his imaginary team-mate. There is no one else in the area: just Wenger’s imaginary team-mate and no one else. The imaginary team-mate sighs and trots off. | 58 min: Philly enjoy a brief jaunt into the Fire half. Wenger gets free on the right and crosses to his imaginary team-mate. There is no one else in the area: just Wenger’s imaginary team-mate and no one else. The imaginary team-mate sighs and trots off. |
| 6.17pm ET23:17 | 6.17pm ET23:17 |
| 56 min: What a ball! What a save! Shipp plays a brilliant slide rule ball to Igboananike, who’s 10 yards from goal. He slides in for a first time shot that Mbohli saves with an outstretched boot. A beautiful ball. Jones then slashes a shot across the face of goal. Fire completely dominant this half. | 56 min: What a ball! What a save! Shipp plays a brilliant slide rule ball to Igboananike, who’s 10 yards from goal. He slides in for a first time shot that Mbohli saves with an outstretched boot. A beautiful ball. Jones then slashes a shot across the face of goal. Fire completely dominant this half. |
| 6.15pm ET23:15 | 6.15pm ET23:15 |
| 54 min: The crackly demon is back on my TV. I flip over to Gonzaga-Duke, where this is silence. This is good news, meaning my TV is not broken, and only inhabited by an unholy being from a different dimension that is partial to ESPN2. That’s one more viewer then. | 54 min: The crackly demon is back on my TV. I flip over to Gonzaga-Duke, where this is silence. This is good news, meaning my TV is not broken, and only inhabited by an unholy being from a different dimension that is partial to ESPN2. That’s one more viewer then. |
| 6.12pm ET23:12 | 6.12pm ET23:12 |
| 51 min: Polster unleashes a shot from distance, it’s sweetly and soundly struck but waaaaaaaay off target. | 51 min: Polster unleashes a shot from distance, it’s sweetly and soundly struck but waaaaaaaay off target. |
| 6.11pm ET23:11 | 6.11pm ET23:11 |
| 49 min: My TV makes a fearsome crackling noise which can only means it is going to explode or a demonic voice is about to start telling me to do terrible things. The crackle crescendoes and nothing explodes and no demons are summoned from hell. This is a good thing, especially as Fire are on a decent attack. Igboananike has a couple of chances, neither of which trouble the keeper. | 49 min: My TV makes a fearsome crackling noise which can only means it is going to explode or a demonic voice is about to start telling me to do terrible things. The crackle crescendoes and nothing explodes and no demons are summoned from hell. This is a good thing, especially as Fire are on a decent attack. Igboananike has a couple of chances, neither of which trouble the keeper. |
| 6.08pm ET23:08 | 6.08pm ET23:08 |
| 46 min: And we’re back. Jones makes inroads on the left before wandering into the middle where dispossession awaits, poised and drooling. | 46 min: And we’re back. Jones makes inroads on the left before wandering into the middle where dispossession awaits, poised and drooling. |
| Updated at 6.08pm ET | Updated at 6.08pm ET |
| 5.52pm ET22:52 | 5.52pm ET22:52 |
| Half-time: And that’s the half. Chicago go in 1-0 up and looking at their first win of the season. It’s deserved, but the home side have looked vulnerable on the break. | Half-time: And that’s the half. Chicago go in 1-0 up and looking at their first win of the season. It’s deserved, but the home side have looked vulnerable on the break. |
| 5.47pm ET22:47 | 5.47pm ET22:47 |
| 43 min: Union try some nice passing to work their way through the Fire defense but it’s to no avail aand Fire lok comfortable enough as half-time approaches. | 43 min: Union try some nice passing to work their way through the Fire defense but it’s to no avail aand Fire lok comfortable enough as half-time approaches. |
| 5.44pm ET22:44 | 5.44pm ET22:44 |
| 40 min: So, Fire finally get a header right. It was the craftiest, subtlest of touches but Adailton was completely unmarked and Mbolhi could have come out earlier to claim the cross. Adailton is now coming off the pitch after sustaining a knock. We’ll see if he’s back. | 40 min: So, Fire finally get a header right. It was the craftiest, subtlest of touches but Adailton was completely unmarked and Mbolhi could have come out earlier to claim the cross. Adailton is now coming off the pitch after sustaining a knock. We’ll see if he’s back. |
| Updated at 5.46pm ET | Updated at 5.46pm ET |
| 5.42pm ET22:42 | 5.42pm ET22:42 |
| GOAL! Chicago Fire 1-0 Philadelphia Union (Adailton 37) | GOAL! Chicago Fire 1-0 Philadelphia Union (Adailton 37) |
| A wicked free-kick is swung into the box, and Adailton gets the faintest of glancing headers to direct it past the keeper. Wenger’s imaginary team-mate does nothing to clear the ball off the line. | A wicked free-kick is swung into the box, and Adailton gets the faintest of glancing headers to direct it past the keeper. Wenger’s imaginary team-mate does nothing to clear the ball off the line. |
| 5.39pm ET22:39 | 5.39pm ET22:39 |
| 35 min: The Fire’s trumpeter has struck up a jaunty little tune. Performance of the day so far. Apart from Wenger’s imaginary team-mate. | 35 min: The Fire’s trumpeter has struck up a jaunty little tune. Performance of the day so far. Apart from Wenger’s imaginary team-mate. |
| 5.36pm ET22:36 | 5.36pm ET22:36 |
| 32 min: Wenger charges through, splitting the centre-halves in half (centre-quarters?). He then lays off the ball to his team-mate to lash the ball home. Unfortunately, this particular team-mate is in Andrew’s head, the nearest Union player being 10 yards away and on the other side of the pitch. | 32 min: Wenger charges through, splitting the centre-halves in half (centre-quarters?). He then lays off the ball to his team-mate to lash the ball home. Unfortunately, this particular team-mate is in Andrew’s head, the nearest Union player being 10 yards away and on the other side of the pitch. |
| 5.33pm ET22:33 | 5.33pm ET22:33 |
| 29 min: Right. We have a pattern: Chicago miss a headed chance, then Philly are narrowly ruled offside. In fact, Union have the ball in the net for a second time today, just after the whistle goes. The calls are getting tighter and the Fire defense are playing a risky game. | 29 min: Right. We have a pattern: Chicago miss a headed chance, then Philly are narrowly ruled offside. In fact, Union have the ball in the net for a second time today, just after the whistle goes. The calls are getting tighter and the Fire defense are playing a risky game. |
| 5.31pm ET22:31 | 5.31pm ET22:31 |
| 27 min: Another headed chance for Fire! Igboananike this time. He possibly mistimes it due to the swirling wind and he heads it firmly into the ground, and it bounces away to safety. | 27 min: Another headed chance for Fire! Igboananike this time. He possibly mistimes it due to the swirling wind and he heads it firmly into the ground, and it bounces away to safety. |
| 5.28pm ET22:28 | 5.28pm ET22:28 |
| 24 min: Philly have been excellent at being offside today: that’s their second call in a few minutes. On the positive side, they’ve both been after excellent through balls: the runs have just been mistimed. | 24 min: Philly have been excellent at being offside today: that’s their second call in a few minutes. On the positive side, they’ve both been after excellent through balls: the runs have just been mistimed. |
| 5.25pm ET22:25 | 5.25pm ET22:25 |
| 22 min: Handball! Or not. Amarikwa turns to shoot in the six-yard box and his shot comes off something.He reckons it’s teh arm of a defender. The referee doesn’t. Replays show it was a good shout. Should have been a penalty. | 22 min: Handball! Or not. Amarikwa turns to shoot in the six-yard box and his shot comes off something.He reckons it’s teh arm of a defender. The referee doesn’t. Replays show it was a good shout. Should have been a penalty. |
| 5.23pm ET22:23 | 5.23pm ET22:23 |
| 20 min: A lovely early ball from Stephens, curling into the Union area. So early that it catches out Union completely. Jones narrowly misses making good contact with his header. Amarikwa then has another headed chance. | 20 min: A lovely early ball from Stephens, curling into the Union area. So early that it catches out Union completely. Jones narrowly misses making good contact with his header. Amarikwa then has another headed chance. |
| 5.21pm ET22:21 | 5.21pm ET22:21 |
| 17 min: Fire definitely the best team so far today. They’re playing it about nicely before attacking down the right for a change. Shipp’s cross is cut out easily enough though. | 17 min: Fire definitely the best team so far today. They’re playing it about nicely before attacking down the right for a change. Shipp’s cross is cut out easily enough though. |
| 5.17pm ET22:17 | 5.17pm ET22:17 |
| 14 min: A question: | 14 min: A question: |
| @tom_lutz Where is the crowd? | @tom_lutz Where is the crowd? |
| Good question. Remember, they are self-described anarcho-syndicalists. They’re probably out bringing down the system. Or watching Gonzaga in the Elite Eight at home, where it’s less windy. | Good question. Remember, they are self-described anarcho-syndicalists. They’re probably out bringing down the system. Or watching Gonzaga in the Elite Eight at home, where it’s less windy. |
| 5.15pm ET22:15 | 5.15pm ET22:15 |
| 12 min: Fire are really concentrating down the left now: Amarikwa and Polster causing all sorts of problems there before coming tangled up in some stubborn union defending. | 12 min: Fire are really concentrating down the left now: Amarikwa and Polster causing all sorts of problems there before coming tangled up in some stubborn union defending. |
| 5.13pm ET22:13 | 5.13pm ET22:13 |
| 10 min: The corner is pinged into the near post but it’s cleared at the expense of a corner. The next one is a king among bad corners and goes out without troubling any players. In fairness, it was high and may have caught the wind. | 10 min: The corner is pinged into the near post but it’s cleared at the expense of a corner. The next one is a king among bad corners and goes out without troubling any players. In fairness, it was high and may have caught the wind. |
| 5.11pm ET22:11 | 5.11pm ET22:11 |
| 8 min: Ooh, some action. Jones breaks free on the left and tricks his way into the box. He cuts the ball across the face of the goal but Union manage to clear. Philly do a bit of attacking down the left themselves and win a corner. | 8 min: Ooh, some action. Jones breaks free on the left and tricks his way into the box. He cuts the ball across the face of the goal but Union manage to clear. Philly do a bit of attacking down the left themselves and win a corner. |
| 5.09pm ET22:09 | 5.09pm ET22:09 |
| 5 min: Ladies and gentlemen, it is the fifth minute and Chicago are already resoritng to a long pump up the pitch. This does not bode well. Not well at all. | 5 min: Ladies and gentlemen, it is the fifth minute and Chicago are already resoritng to a long pump up the pitch. This does not bode well. Not well at all. |
| 5.07pm ET22:07 | 5.07pm ET22:07 |
| 3 min: Short corner for the Fire, after a good early opening but Philly clear after a bit of a scuffle. | 3 min: Short corner for the Fire, after a good early opening but Philly clear after a bit of a scuffle. |
| 5.05pm ET22:05 | 5.05pm ET22:05 |
| 1 min: And we’re off. My colleague Bryan Graham went to high school with Fire’s Jeff Larentowicz. And Mo’ne Davis. Any juicy stories about Larentowicz? He was good at football. Any good stories about Mo’ne? She was good at everything. | 1 min: And we’re off. My colleague Bryan Graham went to high school with Fire’s Jeff Larentowicz. And Mo’ne Davis. Any juicy stories about Larentowicz? He was good at football. Any good stories about Mo’ne? She was good at everything. |
| 5.00pm ET22:00 | 5.00pm ET22:00 |
| The teams are out: they look ... sheepish. And in shock news, I can report that it looks windy in the Windy City. Next week: no one is asleep in New York City. While someone commits a sin in Las Vegas. Actually, if you take Philadelphia’s nickname literally that could be a VERY big sin. | The teams are out: they look ... sheepish. And in shock news, I can report that it looks windy in the Windy City. Next week: no one is asleep in New York City. While someone commits a sin in Las Vegas. Actually, if you take Philadelphia’s nickname literally that could be a VERY big sin. |
| 4.56pm ET21:56 | 4.56pm ET21:56 |
| And a brief note on today’s referee: | And a brief note on today’s referee: |
| @tom_lutz This game is so bad, it gets the worst ref in all of MLS - Dave Gantar. Yes I'm #TFC so biased but he just isn't good at all.. | @tom_lutz This game is so bad, it gets the worst ref in all of MLS - Dave Gantar. Yes I'm #TFC so biased but he just isn't good at all.. |
| 4.40pm ET21:40 | 4.40pm ET21:40 |
| An email! “Surely if we’re going by films and TV shows, Philadelphia wins this game easily,” says Paul Trantor. “Always Sunny in Philadelphia v Chicago Fire; Philadelphia v Chicago; That very short bit in the credits of Fresh Prince where Will is playing basketball v the entire collected works of ER. Easy wins for Philly.” True, but Chicago has Ferris Bueller, so you know ... | An email! “Surely if we’re going by films and TV shows, Philadelphia wins this game easily,” says Paul Trantor. “Always Sunny in Philadelphia v Chicago Fire; Philadelphia v Chicago; That very short bit in the credits of Fresh Prince where Will is playing basketball v the entire collected works of ER. Easy wins for Philly.” True, but Chicago has Ferris Bueller, so you know ... |
| 4.22pm ET21:22 | 4.22pm ET21:22 |
| We have some teams: | We have some teams: |
| #cf97 Starting XI pres. by @UIHealth: Johnson Gehrig, Larentowicz, Adailton, Palmer Shipp, Polster, Stephens, Jones Igboananike, Amarikwa | #cf97 Starting XI pres. by @UIHealth: Johnson Gehrig, Larentowicz, Adailton, Palmer Shipp, Polster, Stephens, Jones Igboananike, Amarikwa |
| LINEUP: Mbolhi; Fabinho, White, Vitoria, Gaddis; Lahoud, Edu; Wenger, Nogueira, Le Toux; Aristeguieta. | LINEUP: Mbolhi; Fabinho, White, Vitoria, Gaddis; Lahoud, Edu; Wenger, Nogueira, Le Toux; Aristeguieta. |
| 4.20pm ET21:20 | 4.20pm ET21:20 |
| Welcome to Chicago Fire v Philadelphia Union, surely the most Sunday at 5pm-est of all this weekend’s fixtures. On the downside, neither team have won this season - and are weakened by injury and international call-ups. On the up side, one of these teams won’t be in as bad a position as they were at the start of the day come the final whistle. And if it’s a draw, they both improve. Truly, the MLS is a blessed and pure place. | Welcome to Chicago Fire v Philadelphia Union, surely the most Sunday at 5pm-est of all this weekend’s fixtures. On the downside, neither team have won this season - and are weakened by injury and international call-ups. On the up side, one of these teams won’t be in as bad a position as they were at the start of the day come the final whistle. And if it’s a draw, they both improve. Truly, the MLS is a blessed and pure place. |
| For the Fire, Quincy Amarikwa is expected to take up full responsibility for attack with Shaun Maloney on international duty (and not doing badly against the might of Gibraltar). Meanwhile, Philadelphia have five starters out injured, and it looks like Vincent Nogueira will have to step up into the No10 role. | For the Fire, Quincy Amarikwa is expected to take up full responsibility for attack with Shaun Maloney on international duty (and not doing badly against the might of Gibraltar). Meanwhile, Philadelphia have five starters out injured, and it looks like Vincent Nogueira will have to step up into the No10 role. |
| 4.01pm ET21:01 | 4.01pm ET21:01 |
| After three straight defeats, there are already questions being asked about Frank Yallop’s Fire team but a home game against Philadelphia offers a chance to put the crisis talk to bed. The Union have shown some spirit this season but should be beatable. If the Fire lose this one will the pressure be on Yallop who managed only six wins last season? | After three straight defeats, there are already questions being asked about Frank Yallop’s Fire team but a home game against Philadelphia offers a chance to put the crisis talk to bed. The Union have shown some spirit this season but should be beatable. If the Fire lose this one will the pressure be on Yallop who managed only six wins last season? |
| Tom will be here shortly to answer that question via the medium of liveblogging. | Tom will be here shortly to answer that question via the medium of liveblogging. |
| Oh, and here’s a little interview with Chicago Fire’s fan group, Section 8: | Oh, and here’s a little interview with Chicago Fire’s fan group, Section 8: |
| Supporters group name: Section 8 Chicago — but we’re not a supporters’ group with membership or dues or anything like that, we are the Independent Supporters’ Association, more or less an aggregation of supporter groups and independent fans. | Supporters group name: Section 8 Chicago — but we’re not a supporters’ group with membership or dues or anything like that, we are the Independent Supporters’ Association, more or less an aggregation of supporter groups and independent fans. |
| When was the group founded? In its present form, circa 2003, but “Section 8” harkens back to the early days of the club at old Soldier Field. Fire fans have been undertaking organized support since the club’s founding in 1997. | When was the group founded? In its present form, circa 2003, but “Section 8” harkens back to the early days of the club at old Soldier Field. Fire fans have been undertaking organized support since the club’s founding in 1997. |
| What’s in the name? The section of old Soldier Field where Fire supporter groups Fire Ultras 98 and Barn Burners coalesced was Section 8. The name has stuck despite moving to different stadiums over the passing years. Yes, it also means a person who is unfit for military service. | What’s in the name? The section of old Soldier Field where Fire supporter groups Fire Ultras 98 and Barn Burners coalesced was Section 8. The name has stuck despite moving to different stadiums over the passing years. Yes, it also means a person who is unfit for military service. |
| What’s special about this team? Tradition, Honor, Passion. Our club represents our city on the world’s stage. | What’s special about this team? Tradition, Honor, Passion. Our club represents our city on the world’s stage. |
| What’s unique about your supporters group? Its structure, diversity, organization (I’ve heard it referred to as “anarcho-syndicalist” which I quite like), and DIY nature. | What’s unique about your supporters group? Its structure, diversity, organization (I’ve heard it referred to as “anarcho-syndicalist” which I quite like), and DIY nature. |