Nemanja Nikolic extends Golden Boot lead by three goals

BALKAN PRESS | 10/15/2017 | MLS League, SOCCER | No Comments

Chicago Fire Rally to 3-2 Win Against Philadelphia Union in Regular Season Home Finale. Forward Nemanja Nikolic extends Golden Boot lead by three goals.

The Chicago Fire rallied to a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Union in their home finale on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park.

Nemanja Nikolic scored his first career hat trick as a member of the Fire (16-10-7, 55 pts.) to help spark the comeback. Chicago trails New York City FC (16-9-8, 56 pts.) by one point for second in the Eastern Conference with one game remaining in the regular season. The Fire’s playoff seed will be determined by next weekend’s results, with Atlanta United FC (15-9-9, 54 pts.) and Columbus Crew SC (16-12-5, 53 pts.) also in the mix for the No. 2 seed.

Nikolic scored his first goal of the evening in the 3rd minute. Brandon Vincent sent a long pass that beat Philadelphia’s backline and pounced into Nikolic’s path. The Fire’s leading scorer dribbled into the box, and then slotted his shot past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake from a tight angle inside the left side of the box.

The Union scored twice soon after to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. C.J. Sapong created the first chance, whipping a shot on target from close range that Johan Kappelhof slid to block. However, the attempted clearance found its way into the net to level the match.

Alejandro Bedoya scored Philadelphia’s next goal with an assist from fellow midfielder Haris Medunjanin. Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson tried to beat Bedoya to a bouncing ball in the box, but Bedoya was first to arrive and chipped a shot into the net.

Nikolic had two more goals left in him to propel the Fire in the second half. Just past the hour mark, David Accam won a penalty kick after Union defender Jack Elliott fouled the Ghanaian in the box. Nikolic went to the spot and drilled his shot into the right side of the net.

Vincent and Nikolic linked up one last time in the 78th minute to complete the comeback. Vincent slipped a diagonal pass from the left to the top of the box, and Nikolic tucked his shot inside the far post with a first-touch effort. Vincent’s helper gave him his first career multi-assist game as a professional.

Nikolic’s trio of goals gives him 24 in 2017, three more than the next-closest in the Golden Boot race with one game remaining.

Sunday’s result was the Fire’s 12th home win of the regular season, the most since recording 13 in 2000. Chicago’s 16 wins overall are the most for the club since notching 17 in 2012.

The Fire close their MLS regular season campaign against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, Oct. 22 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago Plus and Univision Deportes 1200AM.

Highlights: Veljko Paunovic, Chicago Fire Head Coach

On the character of the team in the second half… “I think the whole game, the whole second half, that’s the performance we needed. We are proud of the character that we showed. The reaction was good in the second half. Obviously, two different parts of the game. First half after the third minute, we had, we actually thought that the game for us was over and that’s unacceptable. We cannot ever again have that performance or that mindset. All the games we have to play until the end just like we saw and we showed in the second half, that’s the real Chicago Fire that we are proud of. We are building good momentum. When I look back, I think this is the first time we can bounce back from the negative result and that’s encouraging. That’s what this team needed to see and have happen and we are focused on the next game.”

On resting players for the next game

“I’m going to call Wilmer [Cabrera] and tell him everything. I’m not going to say that publicly. We have our plan and we believe in what we are doing and we believe in our guys and so far I think it worked well, so we’ll continue doing the same. We will keep our cards close to our chest and work towards building the good momentum like we said. Today’s performance in the second half helps a lot and we are getting closer to what is the best or most exciting part of the season, playoffs. That’s what we are heading to.”

On the importance of home field advantage in the playoffs

“It is very important obviously. We can see that in our case and in the case of a lot of teams playing at home means a lot and it’s a very important advantage. You never know, but it’s important. We at least believe and when you believe that’s what’s going to happen and we are going to work towards trying to get the necessary points so we can play at home in the first playoff round.”

On the difference between playing at home and on the road

” I think it’s always, in my opinion, playing away, sometimes you don’t know or you’re not aware of the environment that you’re going to face there. But it’s the mentality. Once you build that mentality, it’s about how you prepare, how you’re going to perform. It doesn’t matter who is in front of you or where you’re playing and that was our goal and will remain our goal because we still have to improve. I believe that once we get to that mentality when we don’t care who’s in front of us and where we are playing, I think that’s going to be possible to have the same performances. This is something that we were preaching and, more than that, we were working on building that mentality and I strongly believe that we’re going to make it but we’re still not there. Therefore, again, playing at home, if we can secure playing at home, it’s going to be very important but also it’s the moment to step up like we did today in the second half. To break some records, to break some negative statistics so all that sometimes has to happen and working towards that remains our goal and I believe that we will make it.”

On David Accam’s impact and the decision not to start him

“We know what David, at this point, needs and what the team needs also, so we are managing kind of everything. His performance was definitely a boost for us in the second half. How he came in, that’s what we need from him and every guy that steps on the field at any given moment during the game. We need that, to push the team, to give the team the necessary boost and also be decisive like he was. Pushing until the end, fighting until the end until we got that result which was very important today.”

On what the team has shown this season and the importance of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Juninho returning from injury

“I think right now we need to enjoy this win, this moment and there will be time to reflect to commentate, the same thing I said last year when you asked me the same question. We’re still in the regular season and things have gone our way. At the end of the season we’ll review everything, the same as now. Things are going well but it’s not the time to look back but rather look ahead. Part of that, I think, is the quick recovery that we’re anticipating from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Juninho and other guys like Michael de Leeuw, who have longer to go but also good news that DJ is close to returning. So we’re starting to recover players for what we have to face ahead which is the playoffs.”

David Accam, Chicago Fire Midfielder

On his prospects for the playoffs

“I think I felt good today, I haven’t played in a long time so today I felt good. I think I’m ready to help this team.”

On planning for minutes

“During this week, that’s what I’ve been telling Pauno, try to come in. I was planning to play 30 minutes but he told me I should get ready, the team might need me and it needs my energy and what I can bring to the team. I knew in my mind that they were going to need me anytime, so I was just ready.”

On scoring goals on the road

“I think the last game we played on the road we won 4-1 so in the last two or three weeks, it has not been a problem to us. We just need to keep going, keep playing well and just work hard, and hopefully we get something on the road.”

MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (16-10-7, 55 points) 3:2 Philadelphia Union (10-14-9, 39 points)
Oct. 15, 2017 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 17,616

Scoring Summary:
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (Brandon Vincent) 3′
PHI – Johan Kappelhof (own goal) 6′
PHI – Alejandro Bedoya (Haris Medunjanin) 13′
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (penalty kick) 64′
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (Brandon Vincent, David Accam) 78′

Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Matt Polster (caution) 45+1′

Chicago Fire: Matt Lampson; Matt Polster, Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira, Brandon Vincent; Dax McCarty ©, Drew Conner (David Accam HT); Arturo Alvarez, Djordje Mihailovic, Luis Solignac; Nemanja Nikolic (David Arshakyan 90+1′).

Subs not used: Richard Sanchez, Michael Harrington, Jonathan Campbell, Patrick Doody, Brandt Bronico.

Shots: 10; Shots On-Goal: 4; Saves: 1; Fouls: 10; Corners: 5; Offsides: 1

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliott (Jay Simpson 90′), Richie Marquez, Fabinho; Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin; Chris Pontius (Marcus Epps 75′), Ilsinho, Fabrice-Jean Picault (Roland Alberg 83′); C.J. Sapong.

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