Chicago Fire Vs Real Salt Lake: 5 things we learned – Schweinsteiger showstopper

The Chicago Fire fell to Real Salt Lake by a score of 2-1 on Saturday night. Here are five things we learned from the contest.

The Chicago Fire have lost their sixth-straight game in MLS, falling to Real Salt Lake by a 2-1 scoreline. The home side grabbed the lead on the stroke of halftime, with Damir Kreilach heading home from close range. The Fire would grab an equalizer in spectacular fashion, with Bastian Schweinsteiger unleashing a rocket from distance.

But Chicago were unable to hold on to the road point, as Kreilach grabbed his second in the 75th minute. RSL expertly killed off the game and sent the Fire back to Chicago with no points.

Here are five things we learned from the contest.

5. Focus on US Open Cup

It’s has been clear for a while now, but Saturday night’s game only further cemented the fact that the Fire have prioritized the Open Cup. Paunovic named a starting XI with plenty of players who are usually stuck on the bench, with stars like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Nemanja Nikolic, and Aleksandar Katai all rested.

The backup brigade did not embarrass themselves and actually gave a pretty good fight. The Fire were in the game until conceding in the final minute of injury time. They even grabbed an equalizer, but couldn’t hold on defensively, giving up the final goal of the game twenty minutes from fulltime.

The deep run in the Open Cup has done some good, but it has cost the Men In Red several points in MLS play. If it yields a trophy, all is good; if not, trouble is on the horizon.