Bernardeschi back in starting lineup as TFC and Fire play to scoreless draw

TORONTO — With Italian star Federico Bernardeschi again within the beginning lineup, Toronto FC performed the Chicago Fire to a scoreless draw Wednesday in MLS play.

Toronto (3-5-8) had its possibilities in an entertaining however scoreless first half during which it had a 10-2 edge in pictures (5-0 in pictures on the right track) on Chicago (3-4-8).

The second half was considerably sloppier from each side.

Chicago produced few possibilities and was credited with only one shot on the right track.

Bernardeschi was benched for Saturday’s 2-1 win over visiting D.C. United.

He’d criticized the workforce’s techniques following a 1-0 loss in Austin the earlier week.

But the 29-year-old returned to coaching this week and was again on the wing Wednesday.

Bernardeschi was greeted by cheers and a smattering of boos through the pre-game introductions at BMO Field.

Toronto coach Bob Bradley was booed in a second straight residence recreation.

The Italian drew extra cheers within the twenty third minute when, after taking an extended ball from Kosi Thompson, he beat two defenders to pressure an acrobatic save from Chris Brady.

Minutes later, the 19-year-old Chicago ‘keeper made another fine stop to deny Thompson only to be injured trying to corral the rebound when his head connected with Deandre Kerr’s knee.

Brady was lower and changed by backup Spencer Richey, a former Vancouver Whitecap, within the thirtieth minute.

Bernardeschi beat loads of Fire defenders on the night and in addition confirmed some effort within the defensive finish, which isn’t his forte.

He exited to applause within the eighty fifth minute, shaking arms with Bradley as he reached the bench.

Toronto has gained simply two of its final 13 video games (2-5-6) in all competitions.

But regardless of its 14th-place place within the Eastern Conference, it got here into midweek play simply two factors out of a playoff place.

TFC has misplaced simply one in every of 9 residence video games (3-1-5) this season, however is winless on the street (0-4-3).

Chicago blew a 2-0 lead on the weekend at New England, having to accept a 3-3 tie after conceding an 83rd-minute objective to former Toronto striker Jozy Altidore.

The Fire got here into Wednesday’s recreation having misplaced simply as soon as in six video games in all competitions (3-1-2) since parting methods with coach Ezra Henrickson on May 8.

Former Montreal coach Frank Klopas has been put in control of Chicago at some point of the season.

Toronto could have unwittingly offered bulletin-board fodder for the Fire with a social media submit of Lorenzo Insigne and Mark-Anthony Kaye in firefighter gear over the headline “Tame the flame.”

Wednesday’s recreation featured the 2 highest-paid gamers within the league, in accordance with the MLS Players Association, in Chicago’s Xherdan Shaqiri (US$8.15 million this season) and Insigne (US$7.5 million).

Shaqiri had assists in 4 of Chicago’s earlier 5 video games. Insigne arrange each Toronto objectives in Saturday’s win.

Kickoff temperature after a scorching day in Toronto was 28 levels Celsius.

Chicago got here shut within the tenth minute with Kendall Burks’ header simply huge off a well-placed Shaqiri free kick.

A minute later, Insigne curled a shot simply huge from a pointy angle

At the opposite finish, Kei Kamara’s header off a Chicago nook flashed huge within the twenty second minute.

Toronto got here shut within the dying minutes of the half with a sliding Kerr denied earlier than Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty was stopped by Richey after a poor clearance.

Largely as a result of Brady harm, there have been six minutes of harm time on the finish of the primary half.

Toronto ‘keeper Sean Johnson needed to be sharp to get a hand to a deflected Kei Kamara shot within the forty ninth minute.

Five minutes later, Bernardeschi fired a free kick over the goal.

Kaye couldn’t get to a pinball-like ball within the Chicago penalty field from a Bernardeshi nook within the 77th minute.

An Insigne free kick was additionally off the mark within the 89th.

Thompson, who scored towards D.C, and Bernardeschi got here into the TFC beginning lineup for Brandon Servania and CJ Sapong.

There had been six Canadians in TFC’s beginning 11.

Toronto was with out injured defender Shane O’Neill, midfielders Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Alonso Coello and Victor Vazquez and ahead Adama Diomande.

Toronto has not misplaced to Chicago at BMO Field in 12 straight video games (7-0-5) relationship again to 2013.

That’s TFC’s longest residence unbeaten run towards a single opponent in membership historical past.