Chicago suffers 3-0 loss at New York

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (May 24) – The Chicago Fire dropped its fourth straight match, falling 3-0 to the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS) action on ESPN2 Primetime Thursday. The Fire (3-4-1, 10 points) dipped below .500 for the first time this season, occupying fourth place in the Eastern Conference. With the win, New York (5-1-2, 17 points), moved into a first-place tie with New England in the East.

The fans at Giants Stadium barely had time to settle into their seats before the Red Bulls struck for two goals. Columbian international Juan Pablo Angel, the Red Bulls’ second designated player signing, led the attack, figuring in all three tallies. Angel volleyed a waist-high ball past goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the third minute. In the opening minute, Angel found John Wolyniec open in the box, who subsequently fed Jozy Altidore for a 15-yard strike.

Angel provided an insurance goal in the 68th minute, playing a through ball to his opposite foot and finishing on a back-heel shot from just outside the goalkeepers’ box.

The “Men in Red” didn’t go down without a fight, launching a season-high 21 shots, including 11 on goal. Calen Carr led the Fire with seven shots as Jon Conway backstopped the Red Bulls to their sixth shutout in eight games.

“The first three minutes put us in a huge hole. We were a bit shocked, but we didn’t quit,” said Fire coach Dave Sarachan. “We honestly felt at halftime, despite the 2-0 deficit, we had enough chances and possessions to get back into the game. It didn’t happen, obviously the third goal put it way.”

Chicago has just two days to prepare for Real Salt Lake’s visit on Sunday, a 4 p.m. start from TOYOTA PARK (Comcast SportsNet tape delayed, 7 p.m.).

Notes

· Chicago was without the services of starters Chris Rolfe (ankle sprain) and Diego Gutierrez (toe sprain). The Fire’s leading scorer, Rolfe has missed the last two games after incurring his injury at Toronto (May 12).

· Second-year midfielder Brian Plotkin earned his first start of the season and the fifth of his career.

· New York tied a MLS record for the fastest two goals to open a game (accomplished twice before). Angel’s goal 55 seconds in marked the fastest in franchise history.

· Less than 24 hours after signing a contract, Brazilian Willian Oliveria made his Fire debut, spelling Justin Mapp in the 80th minute.

Box Score

Chicago Fire (3-5-1 formation) – GK-Matt Pickens, D-C.J. Brown, D-Jim Curtin (Thiago 70’), D-Gonzalo Segares, MF-Ivan Guerrero, MF-Logan Pause, MF-Chris Armas, MF-Justin Mapp (Willian Oliveria 80’), MF-Brian Plotkin (Pascal Bedrossian 63’), F-Chad Barrett, F-Calen Carr.

New York Red Bulls (4-4-2 formation) – GK-Jon Conway, D-Dema Kovalenko, D-Carlos Mendes, D-Jeff Parke (Taylor Graham 46’), D-Dave van den Bergh, MF-Dane Richards (Markus Schoop 78’), MF-Clint Mathis, MF-Seth Stammler, MF-Jozy Altidore, F-Juan Pablo Angel, F-John Wolyniec (Sinisa Ubiparipovic 60’).

Scoring Summary

NY: Jozy Altidore (Wolyniec, Angel) 1’

NY: Juan Pablo Angel (u/a) 3’

NY: Juan Pablo Angel (Graham, Stammler), 68’

Misconduct Summary

CHI: Logan Pause (caution), 13’

CHI: C.J. Brown (caution), 60’

NY: Jozy Altidore (caution), 60’

NY: Dane Richards (caution), 63’

Attendance: 9,357 Weather: clear, 82 degrees

Contact: Daniel Jankowski / 708.921.6504 / djankowski@chicago-fire.com