In their third match of the 2022 Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season, D.C. United lost 2-0 against Chicago Fire FC on a cold night at Audi Field.
The match started with a midfield battle between the two teams. At the 15 minute mark, the Black-and-Red had their first chance on goal when Edison Flores crossed a ball to Ola Kamara, who headed it from close range, but was saved by Gabriel Slonina then cleared off the line by Rafael Czichos.Â
Chicago answered quickly by going on the counter in the 16th minute, finding Mauricio Pineda free between two D.C. United defenders, leaving him one-on-one against Bill Hamid, who got low and blocked it for his first big save of the night.
D.C. United continued creating opportunities with Adrien Perez having a chance with a low shot from inside the box, but Slonina came up with another save. Four minutes later, it was Chicago who had the scoring opportunity after Shaqiri’s pass hit Brad Smith and fell to Stanislav Ivanov, who put it away for the 1-0 lead.
The Black-and-Red almost tied the game after Julian Gressel found Kamara, who chested the ball to Perez for a shot. The ball was blocked, but Sofiane Djeffal went for the rebound and was blocked by Slonina. Djeffal’s shot bounced off Slonina and Kamara was there to put it away, but it was called offside.Â
Chicago had one more look at goal before the end of the half when Kacper Przybylko took a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that forced another impressive save by Hamid. D.C. United headed into halftime, down by one goal.
D.C. United earned a free kick outside of the box to start the second half. Gressel served the ball to the penalty spot and Steven Birnbaum headed it, but Slonina went up for it and made the save.
Chicago found another goal in the 80th minute and doubled their lead after Gaston Giménez flicked over a cross to Jonathan Bornstein, who volleyed it low past Hamid. The Black-and-Red looked to answer with a corner kick from Gressel that Slonina pushed out only as far as to the feet of Andy Najar. Najar took a right-footed shot, but Slonina was there again to block it. D.C. United were unable to find the back of the net, ending the match in a 2-0 loss to Chicago.
