Frustration Abound After Chicago Fire's 2-1 Loss to Inter Miami

The sentiment was felt throughout the Chicago Fire’s locker room after their 2-1 loss to Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale: the Fire wasted a great chance at points against a short-handed conference opponent.

Chicago tied the match at one in the 73rd minute through a lovely strike from defender Rafael Czichos but conceded the match-winner to Jordi Alba less than two minutes after a miscommunication between Mauricio Pineda and Chris Brady in front of the Fire’s goal.

Pineda was forced onto the pitch in the first half after Wyatt Omsberg suffered a non-contact injury and the center back’s attempted clearance in the 75th minute ended up being the difference at Chase Stadium. Chicago’s entire locker room was aware of the opportunity they squandered.

“It's really frustrating at this moment here because I think that when we were down 1-0, obviously we pushed the game,” said head coach Frank Klopas after the match. “The second half was a totally different picture from the first half. I thought the first half we weren't as sharp.

“I think this is the kind of game where, yes, the moments are there to be direct. We should have gone direct at times but then this was the game that we needed to hold the ball more, and be more patient and we didn't have that in the first half. We forced the ball a lot of times. We kept fighting through the middle, especially when we were in the attacking third and they were on a low block.

“But then that changed the second half. We fell behind. We pushed the game, and obviously when you push the game, you have to take some risk, which we did. We found the equalizer. There was good energy with the guys that came in.”

Miami’s match-winner was a gut-punch to everyone with Fire gear on in Florida.

“And then, you know, to give up a goal like that right after we scored. It's different if you get beat by a guy getting a ball, hitting a shot, upper 90 and stuff, but that one, that really hurts. Because it's not the first time. It's just we find ways to beat ourselves, and it's really difficult because the energy that we put in, you know, we created chances. And it definitely feels like, again, we are walking away empty-handed, and it hurts the way we gave up the goal, no doubt about it.”

Rafael Czichos scored the lone goal for the Fire but was visibly frustrated when describing Miami’s match-winning goal in the context of Chicago’s entire season.

“I think [Mauricio Pineda] didn't hear Chris [Brady] saying that he's coming, and then Mauri wanted to clear the ball and [it went] right to Jordi Alba, I think,” said Czichos. “But that's not good enough. I think when you score here, and when you get the opportunity to come back into the game, then it's impossible that you get a goal or that you concede a goal right after, a minute after.

“These are the things we need to learn. We need to learn fast because we run out of games, slowly, only nine left, and we lost another opportunity to get closer to the playoff spots.”

This one is going to hurt for a while according to Czichos because his side didn’t defend with the edge that is required to win at this level. Tactics weren’t the problem for the center back.

“It's been the same the whole season that we give up goals too easily, and that we defend like kids sometimes during the game. Like I said before, that's not good enough. That's not how you are going to get the points that you need, and now we suffer. Now we have a break, and we don't get the chance next week to get the next three points for the week. It's going to hurt for a while now. But it has nothing to do with tactical things we study in practice.”

The Fire are now 14th in the Eastern Conference with a month before their next MLS match. They’re somehow only three points out of the playoff positions but will need to play their best soccer of the season if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

If they have more performances like they did in Fort Lauderdale, the Fire will be able to schedule their offseason vacations for the first week in November once again.

What’s On Tap Next?

The Fire have a month between MLS matches but will begin their Leagues Cup campaign on July 28 against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM CT and will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

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