NYCFC wins at home again, defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 off Heber PK
Courtesy: NYCFC
By Chris Tsakonas
New York City FC got yet another home win, this time a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire at Citi Field. The goal came from Heber off a penalty kick in the 23rd minute. The match marked a fifth straight clean sheet for Sean Johnson, setting a club record.
“It’s really tough to play against us and that's why we dig out the result today,” manager Ronny Deila said. “Again, because we defend as a team, and we are very compact together.”
NYCFC controlled much of the run of play, outshooting the Fire 15-10 overall with a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal while holding possession for 61.8 percent of the match.
It looked as if New York City had a clear path on goal in the 9th minute, with a long ball lobbed over the top found Heber. He was met by a charging Gabriel Slonina, who collided hard with him - but it didn’t matter, as the flag went up.
Heber played a key role in drawing the penalty in the 19th minute, nodding down a cross at the back post into the forearm of Miguel Navarro. After a quick VAR consultation, referee Fotis Bazakos pointed to the spot, and Heber converted to put NYCFC on top 1-0.
“Heber is very good at attacking crosses, but he fights,” Deila said. “He linked up upfront and it was a good ninety minutes as well, that's good for him to get a whole game, so that is really, really positive.”
Heber got another look at goal in the 41st minute, but Slonina made a point blank stop on the first before the follow was rattled off the crossbar.
In the 55th minute, Xherdan Shaqiri sent a cross into the box in the direction of Jhon Duran, but his shot missed too high. Shaqiri missed a free kick from the edge of the box eight minutes later.
Maxi Moralez got on the end of a pass from Talles Magno at the edge of the 18 yard box before firing it off the crossbar.
In the 71st minute, Keaton Parks found Santi Rodriguez at the top of the box, and he fired a shot that was saved by Slonina - his third save of the match.
Chicago finally got a shot on goal in the 89th minute, as Carlos Teran fired a shot right into the arms of Sean Johnson at the back post. It was the first shot on goal allowed in the last three matches played.
New York City returns to the field on Wednesday, when they host the New England Revolution at Belson Stadium in the US Open Cup Round of 16. They return to league play next Saturday on the road against Minnesota United.