Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC fell 2-1 against Inter Miami CF on Saturday night at Chase Stadium. Defender Rafael Czichos scored his first goal of the season in the 73rd minute, and Homegrown defender Justin Reynolds made his MLS debut against the Herons.

The home side opened the scoring in the sixth minute when midfielder Robert Taylor carried the ball up the left flank and ran it along the endline. Taylor tapped it back toward the top of the box for midfielder Matias Rojas, who sent it inside the far post.

Chicago leveled the score in the 73rd minute when Czichos carried the ball up the left side of the field and into the 18-yard-box. Czichos took a shot, sending the ball into the net between the near post and Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Miami regained the lead in the 75th minute when Jordi Alba took advantage of a miscleared ball that landed in the box, sending it into goal.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago will start its run in the 2024 Leagues Cup on Sunday, July 28 against Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT, with global broadcast available on MLS Season Pass.

Notes:

Homegrown defender Justin Reynolds made his MLS debut, entering in the 86th minute for Allan Arigoni. Reynolds became "the second player to play for Fire wearing No. 36," following his older brother Andre Reynolds II.

Additionally, with his appearance tonight, Reynolds became "the 21st Homegrown Player to feature in an MLS match" for Chicago Fire FC.

Rafael Czichos scored his first goal of this season and his sixth overall for Chicago Fire FC.

Gastón Giménez made his tenth start of this season and wore "the captain’s armband for fourth straight match." Giménez’s assist on Czichos’ goal was his third this season.

Chris Brady registered seven saves during this match, marking "the second time in his young career" he has recorded five or more saves consecutively (March 18 vs Cincinnati and March 25 vs Inter Miami CF).

Defenders Chase Gasper (leg), Andrew Gutman (leg), Carlos Terán (leg); midfielders Federico Navarro (leg) and Xherdan Shaqiri were unavailable for today’s match due to various reasons not related to injury.

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Box Score:

Inter Miami CF 2:1 Chicago Fire FC

Goals:

MIA – Rojas (Taylor) – Minute:6

CHI – Czichos (Giménez) – Minute:73

MIA – Alba (Afonso) – Minute:75

Discipline:

MIA – Taylor (Yellow Card) – Minute:39

MIA – Fray (Yellow Card) – Minute:85

CHI – Gutiérrez (Yellow Card) – Minute:88

Chicago Fire FC lineup:

GK Brady; D Souquet; D Czichos; D Omsberg (Pineda); D Arigoni (Reynolds); M Gutiérrez; M Herbers (Mueller); M Acosta (Barlow); M Giménez; M Haile-Selassie (Koutsias); F Cuypers.

Subs not used: GK Richey; D Dean; D Salquist; M Casas Jr.

Inter Miami CF lineup:

GK Callender; D Aviles; D Alba; D Redondo (Allen); M Busquets; M Rojas (Fray); M Gressel (Ruiz); M Weigandt; F Suarez; F Taylor (Afonso); F Bright.

Subs not used: GK Dos Santos; D Sailor; D Negri; M Sunderland; F Campana

Stats Summary:

Shots - Inter Miami CF/19 : Chicago Fire/14

Shots on Goal - Inter Miami CF/9 : Chicago Fire/6

Saves - Inter Miami CF/4 : Chicago Fire/7

Passing Accuracy - Inter Miami CF/86% : Chicago Fire/86.6%

Corners - Inter Miami CF/7 : Chicago Fire/4

Fouls - Inter Miami CF/9 : Chicago Fire/10

Offsides - Inter Miami CF/2 : Chicago Fire/1

Possession - Inter Miami CF /47.1% : Chicago Fire /52.9%

Referee team included Marcos DeOliveira as Referee, Jeremy Hanson and Walt Heatherly as Assistant Referees, Joshua Encarnación as Fourth Official with David Barrie and Craig Lowry handling VAR duties.

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