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The Fire open up their 2025 home campaign against the visiting D.C. United. The home debut for coach Gregg Berhalter. It surely felt like it could go in the record books as one of the coldest home openers, with the game time temperature at 27 degrees, not counting the wind chill! Brrrr.
A big turnout of over 20,000 in attendance. A good sign for the Fire that the fans showed up on a bitterly cold night.
DC didn’t waste any time, a run into the box by Gabriel Pirani, who lays it off to the trailing Christian Benteke and he puts it right between the legs of Chris Brady for an early D.C. United 1-0 lead. Familiar start for the Fire, who found themselves trailing early on a frequent basis, last season.
Fire playing possession, but not creating opportunities. Losing the ball in the final third.
In the 31st minute, a corner from Philip Zinckernagel that tips Jack Elliott’s head and Hugo Cuypers was man on the spot to touch it in with a header for his first goal of the season. Good to see Cuypers get on the scorecard early in the season, after missing pre-season.
D.C. was quick to answer on offense, when a lob ball to the box finds Benteke (surprise) who flicks it over a charging Brady but it hits the corner of the goal post. The Fire dodged one. The problem for the first game and half has been the dangerous playback the Fire are trying to incorporate under Berhalter. It’s created costly turnovers and dangerous situations for the defense and Brady. Costing them a few goals last week.
Pushing and shoving going on in the box on the last play of the half. Kellyn Acosta and Benteke getting into it. United did end up with a header off the cross that just sailed over the top of the goal. Halftime. 1-1.
Formidable bounce back by the Fire after a rough start. They managed to settle down and even it up. Might need some reinforcements in the second half, even though they are playing with a thin bench, due to all the injuries.
Second half opens up with D.C. in control of possession. United are a very solid passing team and do a good job getting out of scrums with the ball in their possession. D.C. keeps breaking down the Fire defenders on the attack.
In the 70th as a double Fire substitution approaches, Zinc lays off a corner and the man on the spot, Cuypers takes a bounce of the head and karate kicks the ball into the back of the net. Fire come from behind and now take a 2-1 lead.
United threatens again with a near goal from a powerful header from Dominique Badji right at Brady, whose amazing reflex reaction save knocks the ball over the top of the goal. There goes that man again Brady, who sails high and tips a ball that robbed a goal from Benteke.
Fire committ a cardinal sin when Sam Rogers gets called for a hand ball in the box in the 90th! Same of Fire eh? Benteke steps up to surely even up the game. Benteke takes the PK and booms it way over the top of the goal! Unreal. Last years Golden Boot winner, who would be one of the most reliable PK taker, completely blows it.
Huge break for the Fire. This game should be tied. Fire should hold onto this. On the final play of the match, deep into stoppage time, United’s Jacob Murrell does the unthinkable. A desperation bicycle kick that sails to the corner of the post for a game-tying goal. Elation for D.C. and familiar heartbreak for the Fire. A cruel end to the game for the men in red.
Final score, 2-2. As gut-wrenching as that ending was, it was a justified one. In no world does Benteke miss a PK this badly. The game should have been tied after the penalty kick and it probably would have never come down to that bicycle kick.
UP NEXT:
A trip to Dallas, to play FC Dallas. It’s been a long time (April, 2022) since these teams last met. A new look Dallas squad will provide the Fire a challenge. Should be a fun matchup in the Big D.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Chris Brady was phenomenal. He made some incredible saves on the night. If not for Brady’s efforts, the Fire would have come out of this game with zero points. It’s great to see Brady continue to rise to the occasion and prove himself as one of the top goalkeepers in MLS.
OBSERVATIONS:
As mentioned in the title, the Fire are still adjusting to playing from the back. It’s been a struggle so far. Last week in the opener it cost them dearly, and pretty much the game. This week it was still shaky, but a little better. The sooner they get comfortable the faster the defense will gel together. It’s part of the Berhalter playing style, but clearly it’s been tough growing pains so far. The hope and bet is that it will get better every week.
