Falling short: Chicago 1, Toronto 1

Bridgeview, Ill. — Toronto and the Fire both had a singular aim going into their match at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night – get a win, and three points. As has happened all too often for both teams this season, they didn’t find the result they wanted, as both teams played to a 1-1 draw at SeatGeek Stadium.

The draw eliminates the Fire and although Toronto technically ended the night in 9th place, games in hand below them make a postseason spot increasingly unlikely for the Canadian team.

Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman faced an impossible choice with squad rotation: His team is slated to play seven matches between September 14th and October 5th, Toronto’s last match of the year, with games every Wednesday and Saturday. With a CONCACAF Champions Cup spot on the line Wednesday against Vancouver, he played a first-choice lineup but ultimately fell short in penalty kicks, but now knows that his team needs every point it can get its hands on between now and the end of the season, giving weary legs – and minds – little time to rest.

Ultimately, he fielded a mostly first choice lineup against the Fire, including Designated Player Federico Bernardeshi, who has been the team’s most effective player this year. Lorenzo Insigne, the second-highest earner in the league after Lionel Messi, was on the bench, one of just two changes Herdman made, alongside resting forward Deandre Kerr in favor of Prince Owusu. Longtime Fire GK started in net for Toronto, in a match that could well be the 35-year old goalkeeper’s final game at SeatGeek, where he was the default starter for years.

Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas, meanwhile, had the benefit of the return of Rafael Czichos from injury and Hugo Cuypers – the latter available, if likely not exactly well-rested after becoming a new father, though Maren Haile-Selassie was rendered unavailable after he and his partner are expecting the birth of their first child.

He also gave Justin Reynolds first-ever MLS start after dropping hints that the Chicago native’s strong performances off the bench warranted consideration for a spot in the XI. Reynolds, playing as a wingback, was six changes in the Starting XI as the home team was looking for its first goal since their 2-1 victory over the Red Bulls following two losses on the road. Brian Gutiérrez was taken out of the starting lineup as Kellyn Acosta returned to the XI after coming off the bench in Montréal.

In the early going, neither team was able to really get an advantage as both teams battled in the midfield but seemed to have few concrete ideas about getting on goal. The Fire slowly gained the upper hand, however, as Gastón Giménez tested Johnson from distance in the 16th minute. The first shot of the game had ample power but sailed wide and high of Johnsons net.

After the shot, the Fire seemed to be awakened, and in the 19th minute, Justin Reynolds was working the ball close to the offensive corner when Matthew Longstaff hit him in the head. Longstaff had his back turned to Reynolds at the time and no foul was called on the play, but it caused a lengthy delay due to the concerns around a head injury.

After spending a few minutes on the touchline, Reynolds was able to resume, and was involved in the game’s next real chance when he headed on a cross from Koutsias, who did the work bringing the ball forward. Reynolds was on target, but Johnson made the save.

Just when the Fire started to look truly dangerous, disaster struck for the Fire: In the 44th minute, Bernardeshi drove the ball up the field solo and cut in the box when he was taken down by Giménez’s ankle.

No foul was called at the time but after a lengthy VAR review, Ricardo Montero montero ruled that Giménez, already on a yellow,m had tripped the former Italian international just inside the box, giving Toronto’s Prince Owusu his first-ever PK attempt in MLS. He successfully sent Chris Brady the wrong way and gave his team a 1-0 advantage.

After the goal, the Fire continued to have the majority of the ball and Hugo Cuypers connected with a ball off a corner to get a shot on Johnson from just inside the six yard box deep into the lengthy first half stoppage time, but Johnson was equal to the task and the half ended with the Fire down 1-0.

At the start of the second half, Toronto seemed to get their first truly dangerous spell of possession, culminating in a shot Owusu from distance in the 50th minute, but Brady parried the ball out of harm’s way.

As has become common in the latter part of the Fire’s season, a shot from the opposition appeared to wake the team up, and they began to regain possession but the team was unable to truly generate any pressure, causing Klopas to go to his bench in the 60th minute, bringing on Chris Mueller, Allan Arigoni and Brian Gutiérrez for Herbers, Souquet and Koutsias.

The Fire continued to hold possession, but the subs failed to have their desired effect and has so often been the case this season, failed to turn possession into pressure or pressure into chances. Looking for a breakthrough, and Klopas again turned to his bench bringing on Dean and Cuypers in the 76th minute.

Eight minutes later, the Fire had their equalizer. Ariel Lassiter crossed the ball into the box, connecting with Jonathan Dean, who had both feet in the air when he clicked it off his heel and into the net. Dean’s first MLS goal sent the 16,097 in attendance at SeatGeek to their feet.

After the Fire’s goal, Toronto seemed to wake up, getting shots off, controlling entry into the box but as has been the case for Toronto’s second half of the season, they couldn’t find the spark needed to actually get a goal going their way.

With just a minute to go, the Fire had their own scramble in Johnson’s net but likewise were unable to connect, ending the game with a draw.

Although the Fire’s fate is now sealed, the team has two matches remaining: They travel to Charlotte FC on Wednesday before hosting Nashville SC at Soldier Field on October 19th after the international break.