Match Report


Chicago FireChicago Fire     Tampa Bay RowdiesTampa Bay Rowdies
Edgar FormosaEdgar Formosa Computer Player Computer Player
Jefferson GonzálezJ. González79
G
1
G
56Harry MeredithH. Meredith
Daniel BulosD. Bulos75
D
2
D
66Alan ReyA. Rey
Carlos KoufattyC. Koufatty72
D
3
D
64Joseph BassoJ. Basso
Jaime BejaranoJ. Bejarano72
D
4
D
62Gerson RogersG. Rogers
Breno BrancoB. Branco68
D
5
D
57Jim MorganJ. Morgan
Sixto EscobarS. Escobar76
M
6
M
67Jimmy WhiteJ. White
Jeremy KnightonJ. Knighton76
M
7
M
64Manny HallM. Hall
Luciano BlancoL. Blanco76
M
8captain
A
72Andrès OsorioA. Osorio
Casey AlstonC. Alston87
M
captain9
A
71Leroy PetersonL. Peterson
Jamie WatsonJ. Watson72
A
10
A
69Brent KingB. King
Hernan BatistutaH. Batistuta71
A
11
A
69Arnold WatsonA. Watson
 
Julio TariccoJ. Taricco70
D
12
M
63Jesse AndersonJ. Anderson
Ross SchneiderR. Schneider70
M
13
A
61Tomás DuarteT. Duarte
Ricardo MurphyR. Murphy66
A
14
M
58Lucas JuniorL. Junior

Hanami
today's match is sponsored by Hanami
Match Report
An overcast sky looms overhead here at Toyota Park where Chicago Fire play host to Tampa Bay Rowdies. A crowd of 14,923 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in great condition.
Chicago Fire are playing in a 4-4-2 formation while Tampa Bay Rowdies appear to be shaped for 4-2-4.
Today's match is refereed by Francis Martin.


0.00
Tampa Bay Rowdies start the match!
2.43
Jeremy Knighton runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Jeremy Knighton whips in a cross ball towards Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson makes a convincing header but it whistles just wide of the post!
4.29
Manny Hall threads a neat ball through to Brent King. Brent King knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
6.20
Hernan Batistuta barges into Gerson Rogers. The referee calls over Hernan Batistuta and warns him to calm down! Gerson Rogers stretches but gets up unharmed.
8.42
Jimmy White receives the ball from a throw-in from Manny Hall. Jimmy White plays the ball forward to Andrès Osorio. Andrès Osorio lofts in a cross ball towards Arnold Watson. Arnold Watson outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward but Jefferson González reads it well. Nice keeping!
10.04
Luciano Blanco chips the ball to his team mate, Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. It's in!! A beautiful goal for Hernan Batistuta!
15.46
Manny Hall barges into Jaime Bejarano. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Jaime Bejarano runs off the knock.
20.46
Manny Hall flicks the ball to his team mate, Leroy Peterson. Leroy Peterson knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Jefferson González who gathers it comfortably.
21.54
Jaime Bejarano flicks a high pass forward. Casey Alston collects the pass. Casey Alston changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Casey Alston lofts in a cross ball towards Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson makes a convincing header. Harry Meredith easily punches it away to safety.
22.22
Carlos Koufatty chips the ball to his team mate, Luciano Blanco. Luciano Blanco flicks the ball to his team mate, Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
26.42
Carlos Koufatty threads the ball through to Casey Alston. Casey Alston passes the ball forward to Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta whips in a cross ball towards Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson powers a header at goal but he balloons it over the crossbar!
30.05
Jeremy Knighton kicks a strong pass forward to Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta shoots from 25 yards but Harry Meredith is on top of it.
32.19
Jeremy Knighton comes in with a late challenge on Manny Hall. The referee calls over Jeremy Knighton and shows him a yellow card! Manny Hall hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
36.10
Luciano Blanco makes a probing pass to Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta lofts in a cross ball towards Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson flicks the ball with his head but it rises well off target!
42.09
Jimmy White changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Jimmy White shoots from 20 yards. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is on top of it. Excellent keeping!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half

Both teams emerge for the second half. Chicago Fire appear unchanged since the first half. Tampa Bay Rowdies also appear unchanged since the first half. The Tampa Bay Rowdies players look more motivated than they were before.

45.00
Chicago Fire kick off the second half!
51.31
Casey Alston clumsily knocks into Jimmy White. The referee calls over Casey Alston and shows him a yellow card! Jimmy White gets up, but that knock is affecting his game.
53.54
Sixto Escobar knocks the ball forward to Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
59.23
Carlos Koufatty knocks the ball to his team mate, Luciano Blanco. Luciano Blanco makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta shoots from outside the area but it's drastically wayward!
60.01
Tampa Bay Rowdies have made 2 substitutions with Tomás Duarte replacing Jimmy White and Lucas Junior replacing Arnold Watson .
63.04
Luciano Blanco laces a weighted ball forward to Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson knocks in a cross ball towards Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta connects with a diving header. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
67.36
Luciano Blanco runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Luciano Blanco rushes past Alan Rey! Luciano Blanco cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal but it is tipped over by Harry Meredith.
68.02
Luciano Blanco takes a short corner kick, passing the ball to Jaime Bejarano. Jaime Bejarano flicks the ball across the goal. Leroy Peterson reaches the ball and heads it out of the danger area!
69.43
Jeremy Knighton threads the ball through to Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta shoots from outside the area but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
77.40
Tampa Bay Rowdies have made a substitution with Jesse Anderson replacing Gerson Rogers .
81.33
Casey Alston flicks a high ball forward to Hernan Batistuta who takes it down. Hernan Batistuta puts a great ball through but Jamie Watson is slow coming back. It's an easy decision for the linesman. Offside!
84.05
Casey Alston makes a probing pass to Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta shoots from outside the area but slams it into the crowd!
85.42
Sixto Escobar passes the ball forward to Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta knocks in a cross ball towards Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson rises majestically and gets a header on goal. The ball comes off Jesse Anderson and the loose ball is cleared up field.
89.06
Breno Branco takes the throw-in. Carlos Koufatty controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Jeremy Knighton. Seeing a gap ahead, Jeremy Knighton laces a weighted ball forward to Jamie Watson. Jamie Watson whips in a cross ball towards Hernan Batistuta. Hernan Batistuta is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal. Harry Meredith didn't know what hit him as the ball comes off him at close range. The loose ball is scrambled clear by the defence.
90.00
The whistle indicates full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Chicago Fire

Tampa Bay Rowdies
Goals
2
0
Shots on Target
7
2
Shots off Target
6
0
Offsides
1
0
Fouls
3
1
Yellow Cards
2
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
73.3%
26.7%
Play Area
18.7%
49.3%
32%

Scorers
Hernan Batistuta 10, 63

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Hernan Batistuta of Chicago Fire

Match Ratings
1.Jefferson González (GK)
6
2.Daniel Bulos (DEF)
6
3.Carlos Koufatty (DEF)
6
4.Jaime Bejarano (DEF)
6
5.Breno Branco (DEF)
6
6.Sixto Escobar (MID)
6
7.Jeremy Knighton (MID)yellow card
6
8.Luciano Blanco (MID)
9
9.Casey Alston (MID)yellow card
6
10.Jamie Watson (ATT)
7
11.Hernan Batistuta (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
 
12.Julio Taricco (DEF)
0
13.Ross Schneider (MID)
0
14.Ricardo Murphy (ATT)
0

1.Harry Meredith (GK)
7
2.Alan Rey (DEF)
6
3.Joseph Basso (DEF)
6
4.Gerson Rogers (DEF)
6
5.Jim Morgan (DEF)
6
6.Jimmy White (MID)
6
7.Manny Hall (MID)yellow card
6
8.Andrès Osorio (ATT)
6
9.Leroy Peterson (ATT)
6
10.Brent King (ATT)
6
11.Arnold Watson (ATT)
6
 
12.Jesse Anderson (MID)
6
13.Tomás Duarte (ATT)
6
14.Lucas Junior (MID)
6