Match Notes | #NYCvCHI | April 10

MATCH NOTES: #NYCvCHI
• The Fire and NYCFC have evenly split the series with a 1-1-1 record. The two teams drew, 2-2, in the only previous meeting at Yankee Stadium (May 15, 2015). 

• With two draws and a win in their last three outings, the Chicago Fire head to New York City aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to four matches. Chicago's last four-match unbeaten run in MLS play came during the 2014 season (July 2 and July 19), a stretch that also includes Chicago's most recent road victory (July 12, 2014 at New England). 

• Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson earned his first win in goal for the Men In Red on April 2, posting his second straight clean sheet in a 1-0 home win against the Philadelphia Union. Lampson's current 266-minute shutout streak ranks as the longest in Major League Soccer this season, surpassing the 255 scoreless minutes for Orlando City SC's Joseph Bendik from March 11-April 3. Vancouver's David Ousted has the next-longest active streak in MLS entering this weekend (218 minutes). Lampson's 77.3 save percentage currently ranks sixth in MLS.

• Rodrigo Ramos, the 20-year-old Brazilian defender acquired on loan from Brazilian side Coritiba, has impressed upon his arrival into MLS, appearing in all four matches thus far with a pair of starts. Ramos was particularly active against Philadelphia, matching midfielder Michael Stephens for the team lead in touches for the game (79) and contributing to Chicago's six blocked shots on the day. With Ramos slotted at right back, veteran Michael Harrington took over the left back duties after having started each of the first two games on the right. 

• Razvan Cocis has scored a goal in each of his two appearances against NYCFC, first opening the scoring in last year's 2-2 draw at Yankee Stadium and then leveling the score at 1-1 in the first half of the 2016 season-opener. In 39 total MLS appearances, the Romanian's only other goal for the Men In Red came on July 25, 2015 against the New England Revolution. 

LAST MEETING (MLS)
3/6: CHI 3, NYC 4 (Cocis 19; Igboananike 49; Accam 72 – McNamara 10; Taylor 29; Shelton 36; Diskerud 63)

• NYCFC took the lead in the 10th minute with the first goal of the 2016 MLS season, when Thomas McNamara hit home with a rocket from outside the box. But the Fire were level nine minutes later, when Arturo Alvarez found Razvan Cocis open on the run on the right and he slotted past NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

• New York City led by two goals before halftime. Tony Taylor polished off a deflected clearance in the 29th minute for a fortunate second, then Khiry Shelton was able to turn past a defender and round goalkeeper att Lampson before tapping into the net six minutes later.

• The Fire were able to pull a goal back when pressure from David Accam won the ball, centering for Kennedy Igboananike to pound into an open goal.

• But NYCFC extended the lead again in the 63rd minute with a full volley goal from Mix Diskerud from a McNamara cross. The final margin was complete when Accam finished from the penalty spot after a City handball on a corner kick.

• CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3-1): Matt Lampson - Michael Harrington (Rodrigo Ramos 66), Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira, Brandon Vincent - Razvan Cocis (Joey Calistri 81), Matt Polster - Kennedy Igboananike, Arturo Alvarez, David Accam - Gilberto (Jonathan Campbell 46).

• NEW YORK CITY FC (4-1-2-3): Josh Saunders - Ethan White, Frederic Brilliant, Jason Hernandez, Ronald Matarrita - Andrea Pirlo - Mix Diskerud, Thomas McNamara - Khiry Shelton (Federico Bravo 89), David Villa, Tony Taylor (Mikey Lopez 69).

Goals By 15' Intervals (2016)

Injury Reports (as of April 7):

Chicago Fire:
OUT - David Accam (M/F), left knee sprain
OUT - Sean Johnson (GK), right wrist sprain

NYCFC:
OUT - Connor Brandt, core muscle repair
OUT - Jack Harrison (M), pelvis injury
OUT - Frank Lampard (M), gastrocnemius inflammation