CHICAGO – The narrative around the Chicago Fire's fall is slowly starting to turn.
With a 2-1 home loss to the New England Revolution in an Eastern Conference six-pointer, they're now six games without a win and struggling to contain preventable goals.
An injury to Anton Salétros prompted the Fire to make major changes in midfield. Without the Swede for just the third time this season, Berhalter handed Sergio Oregel a start in MLS for the first time this season, while summer signing Johan Gómez slotted in as a deep-lying second striker in a 4-2-4.
The decision to go with that shape came to bite the Fire as New England dominated the early midfield battle. Puso Dithejane provided a spark on the left side, but lacked the end product. Robert Lewandowski hardly saw any of the ball, especially not in the 18-yard box; Revs Head Coach Marko Mitrović packed the area, closing the spaces and preventing any sort of chance creation.
Shortly before halftime, the Revolution took the lead in a predictable way. Sam Rogers struggled to contain a well-timed ball over the top of Jackson Yueill and lost a footrace against Dor Turgeman. The Israeli international was allowed to carry the ball in behind Rogers, and slotted it past Chris Brady to open the scoring.
Things got worse for Berhalter’s team shortly after the interval. Rogers had been replaced at halftime for Andrew Gutman, with Noah Allen moving over to left center back, but it was this time Elliott who was responsible. The Fire captain was caught too high up, and Turgeman teed up Peyton Miller for New England’s second.
The Revolution’s domination at that point prompted Berhalter to make a triple substitution in the 55th minute. Maren Haile-Selassie, Robin Lod, and a back-from-injury Jonathan Bamba entered, while Jonathan Dean, Johan Gómez, and Puso Dithejane were withdrawn.
As they often have for Berhalter in Chicago, the substitutes and changes paid immediate dividends. The lack of open space in the Revs box required the Fire to shoot more from distance, and the introduction of Haile-Selassie – who’s been scoring for fun from outside the box lately – made sense. The Swiss winger, deployed as a right back, curled in a shot from 20 yards to cut the deficit to one.
However, Mitrović's well-organized side were prepared for the Fire to maintain most of the second half possession. Berhalter's team have thrived in transition, and in holding most of the ball, the Revolution were allowed to make things difficult for Lewandowski and Co. in the 18-yard box. The late switch to a back five, with Joshua Wynder replacing Yueill for his MLS debut, only made things more compact and difficult.
Lobbed crosses into the box seemed like they would be the only way to threaten Matt Turner's goal; one nearly produced an equalizer in the 89th minute, but Elliott's header was saved.
The loss drops the Fire to fifth in the East, which should ring some alarm bells considering just four days ago, their goal was chasing Miami for second place. Fortunately, their next two opponents provide ample opportunity to prove themselves again, facing Shield-leading Nashville, and a rounding-into-form Charlotte that just passed the Fire in the standings.
Starting XI (4-2-4) — Brady (7); Allen (6.5), Elliott (5), Rogers (5), Dean (5.5); D'Avilla (7), Oregel Jr. (6.5); Dithejane (7), Lewandowski (5), Gómez (5), Zinckernagel (6)
Substitutes — Gutman (6.5), Haile-Selassie (7.5), Lod (7.5), Bamba (6.5)
