Led by MLS’s golden boot winner, Nemanja Nikolic, the Chicago Fire faced off against the New York Red Bulls in their first postseason game since 2012 at Toyota Park.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in the regular season with that game also taking place at Toyota Park, but in less than twelve minutes, any aspiration of lifting the MLS Cup was crushed as the Fire found themselves down 2-0.
Red Bulls forward, Bradley-Wright Phillips scored in the seventh-minute and five minutes later, midfielder and U.S. international, Sacha Kljestan scored their second. The Fire found themselves needing to play catch-up.
However, the Red Bulls defended their lead well as the Fire were unable to find a goal. They went into the half trailing 2-0.
The Fire attempted to mount a comeback in the second half as Coach Paunovic brought in Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The former Germany international had missed the team’s previous eight games due to injury, but Schweinsteiger could do little to bring his team back in the game.
In the 70th minute, the Red Bulls put the final nail in the coffin as the Fire’s Dax McCarty lost possession in midfield which lead to a four-on-two breakaway that ended in Daniel Royer scoring their third goal.
The sparse crowd of 11,467 knew that the game was all but over. Many of those in attendance started heading towards the exits.
Those that stayed saw the Red Bulls add a fourth and final goal in the 87th minute as the Fire lost 4-0.
In the postgame press conference, Coach Paunovic, more commonly referred to as Pauno, lauded the team’s performance at home throughout the season as well as the fans and their support.
“We want to thank our supporters. It was a very good year actually for us, especially here at home, having them at every single game” Pauno said. “Today, also, especially was a game where we saw who really cares and how much they care.”
He also commended how his team never gave up. He made it a point to repeatedly point out how proud he was of his team. Ultimately, he took the blame for the loss.
When asked about injuries to key players like Schweinsteiger and the lack of match fitness for others like Juninho, Coach Pauno said that they are not a team that makes excuses.
The availability of Bastian Schweinsteiger was the big question headed into the match and once he was named in the squad, fans were hoping that he would be in the starting XI. However, Coach Pauno decided to have him on the bench.
His decisions to not start the ex Bayern Munich midfielder came up during his press conference as well as if he waited too long to bring him into the game.
Pauno said, “According to our medical team, they did not recommend Bastian playing more than twenty-five minutes. We work as a team here and I listen to our doctors, who I respect a lot. That’s why they’re here but I didn’t wait too long. If he could have played 45 [minutes], he’d have started.”
The biggest question heading into the offseason is the status of the aforementioned Bastian Schweinsteiger.
He signed a one-year deal and it’s not certain whether he will be back next season.
His signing initially drew plenty of criticism but he had a significant influence in the team’s success. When asked if he would be returning to the Fire, he said, “We will see how it is, the same with every player here.”
Coach Pauno was asked about Bastian’s future as well.
He said, “I think this is the moment where we don’t have to talk about these things. Obviously we want Bastian back, we want to have a man and a player like him on and off the field, but this is not even a question for me.”
A disappointing end to a very good season. After years of finishing near the bottom of the league table, the Fire finally seemed to get themselves together.
Coach Pauno also made it a point to emphasize the progression the team has made considering where they were the last few seasons.
It would be an understatement to say the entire organization were disappointed by the result.
But the team finished third overall and if they can add more pieces, specifically on defense, there’s no reason why the Fire can’t find themselves back in the playoffs this time next year, challenging for a title.
Ernesto Hernandez
Sports Columnist