The points were somehow shared at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night as the New England Revolution drew 3-3 against the Chicago Fire.
An incredibly hectic contest, the visitors took an early 2-0 before blowing it before the end of the first half. They went back in front with about 15 minutes to go, but they failed to hold on once again, with New England finding an equalizer before the night was done.
It was a fun match to watch as a neutral, and neither side will admittedly be too upset with the final result given all that happened.
What happened
Chicago struck first after 10 minutes. Hitting on the break, Xherdan Shaqiri played Georgios Koutsias in-behind the backline, and he did the rest by slamming a shot past the goalkeeper from close range.
New England tried to respond right off the bat, and DeJuan Jones had a good look, but his shot from the edge of the area flew right to Chris Brady.
The away side shockingly made it 2-0 midway through the first half. A cross from Miguel Navarro was whipped into a dangerous area, and Andrew Farrell tried to clear it away, but he instead volleyed it into his own net.
The Revolution did respond this time around, and they did so in spectacular fashion. Noel Buck picked up the ball from about 30 yards out, and he decided to have a go. It’s a good thing he did, as his powerful strike flew into the top corner past a helpless goalkeeper.
They made it 2-2 moments later. A corner was flicked-on towards the back post, and it flew right to Bobby Wood, who then powered a header into the back of the net.
Things slowed up following the break, although the hosts carved out a big chance early on in the second half. Giacomo Vrioni broke free past the defense, but he took too much time to settle himself, and his eventual strike was saved by an onrushing goalkeeper.
The contest went back-and-forth for a bit until the Fire retook the lead. A low cross rolled all the way to Maren Haile-Selassie in the box, and he made the most of the opportunity, burying a first-time effort into the bottom corner.
New England nearly equalized with another stunner, but Carles Gil’s shot from distance flew just wide of the frame.
They did level the match moments later, to be fair. Coming via another corner flicked towards the back post, this time it was Jozy Altidore who was on hand to finish off the chance from close range.
Both teams had a few moments late on, but neither found a winner, which meant that both ended the night with a single point.
What it means
A point doesn’t really do much for anyone.
New England still stays near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, but they’re starting to lose track of the leading pack. Chicago moved a little bit further away from last place in the East, but not by much.
We go again midweek.
Notes and observations
I don’t know why Georgios Koutsias plays with his jersey tucked in, but I rock with it.
New England’s new logo is such a downgrade compared to their old flag logo.
Chicago went back to the 3-5-2 formation for this contest to mixed results. It worked very well early on, but the team lost their shape as the contest went on. They were better at the back during the run of play, although they did concede twice on set-pieces. Whether they stick to that system or go back to the 4-2-3-1 might only depend on the opposition.
Xherdan Shaqiri had another game where he started superbly, but then faded as time went on. He’s not the youngest or the fittest player on the planet, but Chicago will need him to do more for longer in the future if they want to climb up the table. The potential is there, he just needs to be more consistent.
Noel Buck put on a midfield masterclass. He was a real presence in the middle of the park, whether he was winning the ball back defensively or driving forward with it in the attack. His goal was spectacular, and it brought his team back to life. The fact that he’s only 18 makes me a little sick. His future is so bright, and his present is too.
I did not expect to see Bobby Wood and Jozy Altidore on the scoresheet in the year 2023.
Man of the match – The supporters
This was a great game for the neutral, but it must’ve been a stressful night for each team’s fanbase.
Chicago not only blew another lead, but they managed to blow a second lead on the same day. They just can’t lock things up at the back, and individual errors have continued to cost them.
New England did not look good, and their goals all came out of nowhere, with two set-piece goals and a screamer from distance. They’ve not been the same side who started the season, and even though injuries have been a reason why, they’ll need to improve if they want to be legit contenders.
Supporters shouldn’t worry about that at the moment, though. For now, they should just take some deep breaths, lay down, and relax.