Chicago Fire burn Toronto FC two zip

Aron Winter- Head Coach & Technical Director, Toronto FC

On the match:

"If I am watching the whole game we played, we should have earned more than a defeat. I saw a lot of good things. They scored at the moment we had good ball possession. We lost the ball and we didn’t transition to get the ball out quicker. We knew before that they have two strikers that are very fast, and you have to be aware of them. At that moment we were not sharp. So, if you watch the whole game, we had opportunities to change [the scoreline] based on the possession game that we played. We should earn more than a defeat in this game."

On hitting two goalposts in the second half:

"That’s football. At the moment you unlock, then those balls are going to go in. But at that moment like today when you hit the post twice, often the ball comes back for a rebound and you get a chance for a shot on goal but it didn’t go in the goal. That’s soccer. For the most part, I think we played well even if we lost 2 to nil. We have had a lot of changes. We were not sharp with the finishing. That is something I think we can blame ourselves."

On the team’s injuries and many games in the last few weeks:

"It’s not easy but until now we’ve managed well. We’re playing a little different. I think it’s part of this league but also everyone knows the league is very tough. It’s been much tougher for us because of playing in the CONCACAF league but still you have to be smart on the pitch by playing simple. You have take advantage of the opportunities to score and score that first goal. You’re playing much easier when you’re coming back from the moment you score the first goal."

On putting this game behind them:

"Even if you have lost, you have to be optimistic. I saw a lot of good things. You have to recover well; this evening and tomorrow as well. Then we have to prepare ourselves for Dallas."

Richard Eckersley- Defender, Toronto FC

On the match:

"For my viewpoint, I think I’m a bit disappointed. I think that’s a team we can beat. I don’t see why we couldn’t put away our chances and stop their goal scoring as well. I’m a bit disappointed to be honest."

On the team’s fatigue:

"You can say that, but like I said, we’re professional athletes and we’re getting tried everywhere. I don’t think we can use that as an excuse. Everyone goes on the pitch and gives everything [they got.] I feel like the team didn’t give everything tonight and that’s why we lost. Like I said we should have gotten a result out of this."

On having many games in a short period of time:

Yes, we’ve got games coming up so we can’t get too despondent. Like I said, we just have to look at it tonight and just be disappointed with the result because we can do better than that."

On looking forward to Wednesday’s game:

"We just have to review our game tonight and tomorrow morning will be a fresh start. Then got at it Tuesday morning and train for Wednesday’s game. Like I said though, from my viewpoint we didn’t give everything tonight and that’s why we lost."

Matt Stinson- Midfielder, Toronto FC

On the match:

"Disappointing. It’s a team we should beat. I thought we created enough opportunities to beat them but at the end of the day you have to take those and we didn’t. Some soft goals, one off a set piece, the first one was a lucky shot, I guess, whatever you call it. Ah, just disappointing after we went on a five-game unbeaten streak. I don’t know. We want this one back I think."

On the team’s fatigue:

"To be honest, I don’t think that had a lot to do with it. Obviously at the end of the game, both teams are tired and the game’s opening up a bit. It comes down to finishing our chances and we didn’t do that."

On the team’s outlook for Wednesday’s match:

"I think the vibe on the team is still positive. We came together as a group before and this is our first kind of downfall since we made a bunch of trades. I think we’re all looking forward to Wednesday’s game and getting three points from that in the CONCACAF match."

Frank Klopas- Interim Head Coach, Chicago Fire

Thoughts on the match:

"Obviously it’s just great to get the win because sometimes the team has played well, but sometimes things just don’t go your way. In a game like today, we looked a little bit tired. It certainly wasn’t one of our best games. Some things kind of went our way. Toronto hit the post a few times, ball didn’t go in, and so things were going our way. Mostly, I’m just very happy not only for the players that have been working very hard, but also for our fans. Gosh, it’s just a good feeling."

On the team’s record:

"The people that don’t see the games only see the scores. The ties. Most of our games could have ended up another way. As a team, as a whole it’s coming together. It’s just a matter of time, fine tuning, and finishing chances. It is a relief. You can motivate a team and keep the guys focused, but it also helps when you get wins."

On team chemistry:

"So many things we do are improving. Don’t forget, we have a lot of new players on the team. The most important part in putting together a team is trying to get good team chemistry. That’s our starting goal. Of course, that includes getting new and talented players. But that takes time. After saying success is going to come over and over again, it’s nice to finally have something to show for it. We’ve been so close. We got a lot to play for now. That’s important. As a coach, you can only do so much to motivate the players so it helps when the stuff you’ve been working on pays off and you get a victory."

Sean Johnson- Goalkeeper, Chicago Fire

On the result:

"I think the win is good for team morale. We’ve been teetering on that line having so many ties, so I think it’s good to come out and get a victory tonight for everyone’s confidence going into next weekend. We’ve got to get on a roll here and make a push for the playoffs, and that starts tonight. We will enjoy the win and take the good and the bad from it, and then move on next Saturday to Colorado keeping it going."

Dan Gargan- Defender, Chicago Fire

On scoring his first goal with the Fire against his former team:

"It feels great to score, but it feels even better to get the three points. We’ve been pushing for that and we really needed it. It was really nice to get it at home. "

On breaking the winless streak and the importance of a win:

"It certainly grinds on the team, considering how hard we’ve been working in training and games and not getting those three points. Hopefully this is just the start and the spark we’ve been looking for. We got a little lucky tonight with a couple of posts they had, but that’s the way the game works sometimes. It was important for us to finish the 90 minutes out and get the three points. "

Scoring Summary: 
CHI — Dominic Oduro 8 (Gonzalo Segares 3) 16 
CHI — Dan Gargan 1 (Pavel Pardo 1) 69 

Misconduct Summary: 
TOR — Danleigh Borman (caution; Foul) 77 

Lineups 

Chicago Fire — Sean Johnson; Dan Gargan, Jalil Anibaba, Cory Gibbs, Gonzalo Segares; Pavel Pardo, Logan Pause, Sebastián Grazzini (Cristian Nazarit 89), Marco Pappa (Orr Barouch 73); Dominic Oduro (Baggio Husidic 89), Patrick Nyarko 

Substitutes Not Used — Jon Conway, Yamith Cuesta, Dan Paladini, Diego Chaves 

Toronto FC — Milos Kocic; Andy Iro, Richard Eckersley, Torsten Frings, Danleigh Borman (Ashtone Morgan 80); Matt Stinson, Julian de Guzman (Mikael Yourassowsky 61), Peri Marosevic; Ryan Johnson, Joao Plata, Javier Martina (Nathan Sturgis 46) 

Substitutes Not Used — Ty Harden, Terry Dunfield, Dasan Robinson, Stefan Frei 

Referee: Paul Ward 
Referee’s Assistants: -James Conlee; Steven Taylor 
4th Official: Landis Wiley 
Time of Game: 2:01 
Weather: Clear-and-78-degree 
Attendance: 12,020