In the brief history of Atlanta United, they have never given up five goals in a game. The Chicago Fire put a fiver on them in the first half tonight. It’s Independence Day eve, tomorrow is the Fourth of July holiday, and the Chicago Fire have their first win since May 11.
Yes, it’s been that long, and it comes against the defending MLS Cup champions, who got obliterated like the aliens at the end of that classic 1996 sci-fi film staring Will Smith, Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum. Why doesn’t Chicago have firepower like this on a more routine basis?
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Why have they been so mired in mediocrity, at best, overall this season? After all, they have the third highest overall payroll in MLS; although it is second lowest in median salary, due to the top heaviness of the designated players.
The recently acquired Nicolas Gaitan was the man of the match, as he tied the club’s single game assist mark. Tonight also saw the Chicago Fire set a club record for the most goals scored in a single half
A team that’s had serious issues making the most of scoring chances, saw six players with at least three shots tonight, eight with at least a pair. There was a whole lot to like, but there is still a notch or two higher to go. The five-goal performance featured forward CJ Sapong’s first brace with the Fire; they also received scoring from Gaitán, Francisco Calvo and Fabian Herbers.
Chicago Fire manager Veljko Paunovic was pleased with what he saw overall, but still wants more. Pauno was obviously pleased with the result, but also discontent with the poor showing in the second half.
“This team was always consistent in style, always consistent in creating opportunities and producing a lot in attack,” said Paunovic.
“There are things that are repeating and this time we were very clinical in front of the goal. I’m not satisfied with the second half. Even with a good result, we could have done much better and I think we didn’t have the same edge and same desire like in the first half, which I understand.”
“We all know that even though we had a good result today here, we all know we have to get better. There are many things to improve. It’s a very important step forward for the team.”
Team captain and star midfielder Dax McCarty was also very happy with the result while at the same well aware that this Chicago Fire side has the potential for even more.
“Feeling good,” McCarty said after the game.
“It doesn’t cure everything, obviously. It doesn’t make up for the whole first half of the season but it felt like we exorcised a few demons, didn’t it?”
“With the amount of chances that we created against the Red Bulls and all these other teams we’ve played before, DC United and you know, it’s always frustrating when you lose games, when you feel like you should win.”
The Fire victory boosted their record to 5-7-7, 22 points; eighth in the Eastern conference. Atlanta’s brutal defeat dropped them to 9-7-2, 29 points, fourth in the conference standings. The Fire outshot Atlanta United 24-4 and won the Fire won the possession battle 72-28 percent.
“I don’t really want to talk about the second half, it wasn’t as good,” McCarty continued, “that first half is everything that we want to be as a team. We want to score goals. We want to keep a shutout in the back.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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