HARRISON, N.J. – In extending a league-record 30-game winless streak on the road, the Chicago Fire did nearly enough to grab a result against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, but one mistake proved catastrophic in a 1-0 loss at Red Bull Arena.
The Fire had 35 percent possession for the game as they played a counterattacking style, hoping to catch the Red Bulls on the break, and even edged their opponent in shots on target, with two.
But the chances they got weren't enough, and a single breakdown in the back led to Mike Grella's score, putting the road winless run at a full 30 matches.
Yet their coach remained optimistic.
“It's a part of the process where we are,” Fire head coach Veljko Paunović said after the game. “We are a young team, a team under construction still. But growing and we learn from the lessons like today and we just keep on pushing hard.”
Kennedy Igboananike swerved a shot from outside the box over the bar with the Fire’s first real chance in the twelfth minute. Then David Accam, rounding into form after being sidelined with a knee injury, whistled a shot off the bar in the 30th minute from well over thirty yards out. And substitute Gilberto fired over the bar shortly before second-half stoppage time.
“Obviously, the two guys up top, Accam and Kennedy are very dangerous,” Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles said. “They have a lot of pace, and I thought our defensive line did a great job of limiting their chances.”
Winless in six, the result and the style – a close loss – was familiar. But Paunović refused to dwell on the result, instead emphasizing the overall performance.
“Well, telling the truth, because I think we did a great job today,” Paunović said. ”We had a very good team in front. We played, we defended well, we created chances, we had opportunities, and that's the spirit that we have to keep. We just tell the guys, they did great, and we are proud of them and keep on working.
"Keep on working. Next game, next game. Because there are things that you can improve, like you can always prove that you are improving. So we tell guys that they are doing good.”
