CHICAGO — Robert Lewandowski has arrived in Chicago, and now the Fire can feel his impact.
The Polish superstar was at the center of the action Saturday night as the Men in Red returned to winning ways, coming from behind to beat Charlotte FC 2-1 at Soldier Field in front of 32,183 fans.
After two flat road losses to Inter Miami and New York City FC, in which both times Gregg Berhalter utilized a 4-2-4 shape, a change was clearly needed this time. Lewandowski returned to the starting lineup, this time as a clear attacking focal point, with Robin Lod playing more as a #10. Aside from that, Berhalter kept his strongest lineup for a game his team needed to win.
Despite a poor-quality playing field (post-Karol G concert) and wet conditions throughout the day, there was action from the opening whistle. Both teams blasted shots off target in the opening 15 minutes, with Jonathan Bamba in particular looking very lively in his first Soldier Field appearance since May 9th.
Charlotte opened the scoring, though, much to the shock of the home crowd. Pep Biel, three days on from an MLS All-Star appearance, snuck a shot in from a tight angle, and ending Chris Brady’s hopes of a clean sheet after 18 minutes.
The Fire responded well. Moments after kickoff, they already had an answer. Bamba and Philip Zinckernagel combined well on the attack, teeing up Lewandowski outside the box. The 37-year-old drilled the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving Kristijan Kalhina with no chance.
Lod also looked at his best after a difficult stretch either side of the World Cup break. The Finn forced a Kahlina save in the 24th minute, and otherwise looked lively in a role that clearly suits him far better than the true second striker role he’s largely been deployed in over the last several matches.
The Fire came out of the halftime break the better of the two teams, despite the 1-1 scoreline. Anton Salétros had a shot blocked almost instantly, though the Fire were unable to capitalize on the ensuing corner.
However, the moment of magic came in the 68th minute. Lewandowski got on the end of an excellent team sequence and needed just three touches to get in behind the final defenders and score what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
In doing so, Lewandowski became just the second player in club history to score twice in his Soldier Field debut, joining the great Frank Klopas, who did so in the club’s inaugural 1998 season. The goals silenced any doubters following Hugo Cuypers’ shock exit earlier this month.
The Fire were clearly the better team for the remainder of the match, and Berhalter also managed it well. Dean Smith made changes that did little to change the outcome, and Berhalter responded with tweaks that negated whatever impact they had.
The win keeps the Fire in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, though they do have a game in hand. Heading into Leagues Cup, and with a month still remaining in the transfer window, Berhalter is certainly feeling pretty good.
Starting XI (4-2-3-1) — Brady (6); Gutman (7), Elliott (6.5), Waterman (7.5), Barroso (7.5); D'Avilla (7), Salétros (7.5); Bamba (8), Lod (7.5), Zinckernagel (9); Lewandowski (9)
Substitutes – Dithejane (7), Pineda (NR), Haile-Selassie (NR)
