Chicago drops 3-1 decision at D.C. United

WASHINGTON D.C. (June 16) – In a match up of two teams headed in opposite directions, the Chicago Fire suffered a 3-1 loss to D.C. United in Major League Soccer action before 20,161 fans at RFK Memorial Stadium.  Chicago has lost six of eight matches while D.C. has won five of its last six.

D.C. United need just six minutes to get on the board.  Brazilian midfielder Fred served a ball into the box that goalkeeper Matt Pickens smothered, but then lost control of, allowing an easy tap-in for Rod Dyachenko. 

D.C. (5-3-2) proceeded to build a 3-0 cushion behind a pair of goals from forward Luciano Emilio.  In the 25th minute, Christian Gomez found Emilio open in the latter third.  Emilio promptly flicked a shot over Pickens, who was drawn out of goal on the play.  Emilo capitalized again in the 51st minute for his team-leading fifth goal of the season, nudging a ball over the goal line after a pass in the box from Gomez was partially turned away by Pickens.

Chicago answered three minutes later, as rookie Jerson Monteiro scored his first career goal, placing a low shot inside the far post.  A first-round draft pick, Monteiro had been in the game for only nine minutes after replacing Floyd Franks in the second half.

Chicago (4-6-2) will use its bye week in the MLS schedule to host Polish side Cracovia next Friday (June 22) at 8 p.m. CT in TOYOTA PARK.

Notes

·          D Jordan Russolillo and MF Floyd Franks made their first career MLS starts for the “Men in Red.”

·          Team captain Chris Armas missed his second straight game with a hip injury.

·          Chicago has surrendered three goals in each of its last four road contests.

·          The Fire returns to MLS play on July 1, hosting the Colorado Rapids.

Box Score

Chicago Fire (4-4-2 formation) – GK-Matt Pickens, D-C.J. Brown, D-Jeff Curtin, D-Dasan Robinson (Brian Plotkin 70’), D-Jordan Russolillo (Willian Oliveria 46’), MF-Gonzalo Segares, MF-Diego Gutierrez, MF-Bakary Soumare, MF-Floyd Franks (Jerson Monteiro 46’), F-Chad Barrett, F-Calen Carr.

D.C. United (4-4-2 formation) – GK-Troy Perkins, D-Bryan Namoff, D-Facundo Erpen, D-Devon McTavish, D-Joshua Gros, MF-Fred, MF-Brian Carroll (Clyde Simms 71’), MF-Christian Gomez (Justin Moose 66’), MF-Ben Olsen (Nicholas Addlery 83’), F-Rod Dyachenko, F-Luciano Emilio.

Scoring Summary

DC: Rod Dyachenko (unassisted) 6’

DC: Luciano Emilio (Gomez) 25’

DC: Luciano Emilio (unassisted) 51’

CHI: Jerson Monteiro (unassisted) 54’

Misconduct Summary

CHI: Jeff Curtin (caution) 73’

DC: Bryan Namoff (caution) 91+’

Referee: Tim Weyland   Attendance: 20,161   Weather: warm, clear, 77 degrees

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