Union stumble against the Fire, losing for the second time this season

The Union are still leading the Eastern Conference, but wasted their chances in a loss against the Fire.

Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya looks-up against New York City FC on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

by Meg Swanick, For The Inquirer

Published June 29, 2022, 10:38 p.m. ET

Jim Curtin’s first-place Philadelphia Union took a hit as they lost 1-0 to 13th-place Chicago Fire on Wednesday at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Union hadn’t lost a regular season match in nine games heading into the night, and hadn’t lost to Chicago since 2019.

Curtin cautioned his team ahead of the match not to let its guard down, advising the Union to keep their intensity high, lest it into a “trap game”.

Unfortunately for the Union, Curtin’s assertion that this match might flummox them proved true as the squad dropped all three points in Chicago.

“I don’t think we were arrogant or cocky, but stepping on the field tonight, maybe there’s a mental letdown from the game against New York,” Curtin said.

Philadelphia came out strong with its trademark spark in the opening minutesbut ceded momentum to Chicago as the half wore on. Possession and pace were Chicago’s to direct, and Philadelphia looked flat and uninspired in response. The Union took only four shots in the first half for an xG of just 0.15. With little to say in terms of its offensive threat, the squad made mistakes in possession and failed to assert its tempo into the match.

Curtin sent in two substitutions to start the second half, alternating Olivier Mbaizo for Nate Harriel and Cory Burke for Julián Carranza up top. Burke has a record of scoring excellence against Chicago Fire, which Curtin’s staff was keenly aware of and intended to utilize. Almost immediately, Burke made an impact when a beautiful cross from Kai Wagner found Burke’s head. However, the Fire’s prolific teenage goalkeeper, Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina, made the difficult save. It was among the few goal-threatening opportunities the Union produced all match.

“Too many sloppy passes, turnovers, we just weren’t sharp enough,” Curtin said.

The Fire continued to dictate play into stoppage time, putting the Union on the back foot by winning duels, getting second balls, and exploiting their press. In the 68th minute, Chicago sent home the goal it had been inching toward all game. Chris Mueller — a menace going forward throughout the night —found his way past Wagner before crossing to Boris Sekulić, who found Federico Navarro ready to send it home from the top of the box past Andre Blake. Alejandro Bedoya was a step too late getting to Navarro.

Philadelphia’s José Martinez picked up his second yellow in the 73rd minute, which sent him off the field and left the Union to claw their way out of the deficit with just 10 men.

Philadelphia did attempt to climb back in the waning moments with a few late attempts on goal. Despite the handful of dangerous plays in stoppage time, Slonina kept the clean sheet for Chicago, and the match ended in a deflating loss for the Union.