Chicago Fire formally clinched spot 2017 Audi MLS Playoffs
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2017) – Milestones became a running theme on Wednesday night, as the Chicago Fire (15-10-6, 51 points) scored early and often in besting the San Jose Earthquakes (11-14-6, 39 points) by a score of 4-1 at Avaya Stadium. With the win, the Fire have formally clinched a spot in the 2017 Audi MLS Playoffs.
Homegrown product Djordje Mihailovic in his fourth start of 2017 opened scoring early on with his first goal as a professional. Matt Polster and Michael de Leeuw played a give-and-go just outside the San Jose 18-yard box that resulted in Polster playing a ball to a waiting Mihailovic near the penalty spot. The 18-year-old turned, and coolly placed a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell to give the Fire the lead in the 14th minute.
Luis Solignac continued to add to his single-season career high goal haul shortly thereafter and extended the Fire lead just before halftime. The 26-year capped a brilliant sequence — begun by Mihailovic, switched to de Leeuw, and headed past Tarbell — to bag his seventh goal of 2016 and give the Fire a 2-0 lead in the 40th minute.
History was made just three minutes into the second half. Forward Nemanja Nikolic — on 18 goals in 2017, level with Ante Razov for the club’s all-time best single-season mark — made the record all his own in the 48th minute. After intercepting an errant Tarbell pass in the Earthquakes attacking third, Solignac found a waiting Nikolic who turned and blasted his 19th goal of 2017 into the back of the net and bring the Fire advantage up to 3-0.
Despite the feat, Nikolic wouldn’t take much longer to make it 20. Defender Jonathan Campbell began the move by picking his head up and playing a long ball over the top to de Leeuw, who attempted to beat an on-running Tarbell with a high chip that ricocheted off the crossbar. As the rebound fell, Nikolic capitalized and headed in the Fire’s fourth goal in the 65th minute.
Chris Wondolowski pulled one back late for the Quakes, heading a Valeri Qazaishvili cross past goalkeeper Richard Sanchez to make it 4-1 in the 87th.
Sanchez made his MLS debut between the pipes for the Fire, and made eight saves in helping limit the Quakes attack to the lone finish as regular time expired.
Dax McCarty started and made his 300th career MLS regular season appearance on the night, just the 37th player in league history to reach the milestone and the third to do so in a Fire shirt alongside midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and goalkeeper John Busch.
CHICAGO HEAD COACH VELJKO PAUNOVIC
On overall thoughts about the game:
“The team achieved a great, great victory today. Very important win obviously. If I’m not wrong we clinched today. So that’s the great achievement for the whole organization, the whole club. We are proud of our guys and very happy obviously, but we also know we can go and try to get the best possible position in our conference, which is our next goal. Now we have immediately in a couple days, we play against one of our direct rivals, New York City FC, who did very well today. We have to get our guys, obviously today enjoy, celebrate, but we have to start our recovery as soon as possible and tomorrow fly back to Chicago and prepare for the game Saturday.”
On the play of Nemanja Nikolic:
“Obviously happy for Niko scoring two goals, but I’m going to say this over and over again: Niko does his job and everyone else on the field, when we all do that, then we get points. But we get goals, we win games, but the most important thing is the team.”
On the team’s impressive ball movement:
“I think the guys were, they knew what they had to do. We spoke about it, we prepared. I think the guys were very motivated. We had a very good team meeting today and we just moved all the rocks on the road and the guys performed fantastic. Huge credit to the guys. As I said, very proud of them. But we still have to try to get the best possible position and we have to play the last three games like never before. Now we don’t have the pressure of the playoffs, we finally clinched and now it’s very important to take out all the talent we have, put everything on the table, get the best possible position as we look toward the playoffs.”
On clinching the playoff spot after the team’s struggles in recent seasons:
“It’s great. This locker room did a great job so far and as I said the guys were amazing. Huge credit to them. Everyone on the club obviously is working and doing their best but they needed to see and these guys had to do what they did. They had to do it on the field. When that happens, everyone else believes. But everything comes from the locker room, everything comes from the players and that was very, very important to see the performance this year, which makes everyone in our environment and also our fans to believe in what we are doing.”
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER DJORDJE MIHAILOVIC
On scoring his first MLS goal
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, but we’re just focused on playoffs right now. We clinched playoffs tonight and that’s what I’m looking forward to, more than the goal. It’s a team game and just can’t believe it right now.”
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER DAX McCARTY
On clinching a playoff spot in his first year in Chicago:
“It’s a fantastic team accomplishment. I think if you want to be a successful club in Major League Soccer, it should be the bare minimum expectation every season is to make the playoffs and give yourself a chance. So, really proud of the guys – mid-week game, coming out to the West Coast against a team that’s in a situation where they had to win as well. Short rest, just a tremendous performance by our guys tonight. By far not only our best performance on the road, but one of our best performances of the season, so it’s a great feeling to make the playoffs on our own accord and not with other teams helping us out. It’s a great feeling. For me, winning is a habit, and you just need to make sure that you continue good habits. I think it’s a tremendous achievement for the club, but now this is only one of our goals, we need to continue to push forward and try to accomplish another goal.”
On making his 300th MLS appearance:
“It’s amazing. I just found out about it a day or two ago. I knew I was up there, but I didn’t know that tonight was going to be the night, but it’s hard to put into words what MLS has meant to me and for my career. I never take any of it for granted, ever. And 300 games, it’s a great accomplishment. I’ve tried to step on the field and represent the clubs I’ve played for with class and dignity and I hope that I’ve done that. I’ve joined the 30 club this year, 30 years old, but I feel awesome and I’m hoping I can continue to go on and maybe get 300 more.”
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (15-10-6, 51 points) 4:1 San Jose Earthquakes (11-14-6, 39 points)
Sept. 27, 2017 – Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 17,256
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Djordje Mihailovic (Matt Polster, Michael de Leeuw) 14’
CHI – Luis Solignac (Michael de Leeuw, Djordje Mihailovic) 40’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (Luis Solignac) 48’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (unassisted) 65’
SJ – Chris Wondolowski (Valeri Qazaishvili) 87′
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Arturo Alvarez (caution) 26’
SJ – Florian Jungwirth (caution) 35’
SJ – Anibal Godoy (caution) 39’
SJ – Jackson Yueill (caution) 67′
Chicago Fire: Richard Sanchez; Matt Polster (Joao Meira 66’), Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Brandon Vincent; Dax McCarty (Brandt Bronico 83’), Djordje Mihailovic; Arturo Alvarez, Michael de Leeuw, Luis Solignac; Nemanja Nikolic (Drew Conner 76’).
Subs not used: Matt Lampson, Jorge Corrales, Michael Harrington, David Arshakyan.
Shots: 14; Shots On-Goal: 10; Saves: 8; Fouls: 16; Corners: 3; Offsides: 2
San Jose Earthquakes: Andrew Tarbell, Nick Lima (Valeri Qazaishvili 64’), Francois Affolter, Tommy Thompson (Jahmir Hyka 77’), Shea Salinas, Danny Hoesen, Jackson Yueill, Florian Jungwirth, Anibal Godoy, Marco Ureña (Quincy Amarikwa 72’), Chris Wondolowski.
Subs not used: David Bingham, Victor Bernardez, Kofi Sarkodie, Darwin Cerén.
Shots: 20; Shots On-Goal: 9; Saves: 6; Fouls: 10; Corners: 5; Offsides: 1
The Fire return home Saturday night, Sept. 30, to welcome New York City FC to Toyota Park for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Coverage of the Eastern Conference contest can be found on CSN Chicago Plus and Univision Deportes 1200AM.
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