Chicago Fire Vs Real Salt Lake: 5 things we learned

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

BRIDGEVIEW, IL - JULY 18: Chicago Fire Nemanja Nikolic (23) kisses midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (31) on the head after the goal against the Louisville City FC during on July 18, 2018 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JUNE 17: Chicago Fire goalkeeper coach Aleksandar Saric talks to Chicago Fire goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland (30) and Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson (28) before a regular season MLS match between the New England Revolution and the Chicago Fire on June 17, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Fire defeated the Revolution 2-1. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Cleveland does well on debut

The most notable change to the starting lineup came in goal. Paunovic decided to give Stefan Cleveland his MLS debut, while benching an underperforming Richard Sanchez in the process.

To explain how well the new keeper did, he was named the Fire’s Man of the Match, even though he conceded twice. That is due to the fact that neither of the goals he let in were his fault and that he saved the Men in Red on countless occasions.

Without the heroics of Cleveland, Chicago could’ve ended up conceding five or more. Now, it is up to Paunovic to decide whether he goes back to the well with Sanchez or rides the hot hand of Cleveland for Wednesday’s crucial fixture.

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