Upon Further Review, Credible Chances: Chicago Fire 0-1 Houston Dynamo

June 9, 6:58 AMChicago Fire ExaminerRoman Kashuba

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Kei Kamara and the Dynamo made their best chance stick with a 1-0
victory over the Fire (AP Photo)

Returning to their May home form, the Fire dominated possession and controlled the match for long stretches, creating a barrage of golden opportunities, but converting none.  Despite sitting back and absorbing pressure for the better part of 70 minutes, Houston's lone goal from it's lone shot on goal proved to be enough for the win.

Many Fire fans were quick to criticize Patrick Nyarko, but had a hand in all but one of the Fire's eight credible chances against the Dynamo and his tireless work rate kept the Dynamo defense guessing where he would pop up next.   

Credible Chances:
Scored as "CC" in this observers notebook, credible chances are either: goals; shots on goal that forced a difficult save, or would have forced a difficult save had there been more power on the shot; or clear chances that are mis-hit (e.g. free headers that miss the frame, open shots that sail into the bleachers, the sort of thing that makes you sit on the edge of your seat and then cringe afterward.)

4' - HOUSTON DYNAMO - Kamara tracks down a ball in the left corner and dribbles at C.J. Brown, who gives up ground until Kamara gets into the box.  Stuart Holden makes a run behind Logan Pause to the near post and Kamar finds him easily.  Holden's one-touch finish chips past the helpless Jon Busch for a GOAL!

7' - Rolfe finds Nyarko with a long through ball down the middle of the field.  Nyarko touches the ball ahead, but is squeezed out of possession by Cameron and Waibel just as he enters the box.  VIDEO

16' - Brown sends a long ball to Nyarko.  Bobby Boswell misplays the ball and Nyarko is set free to the left of the goal.  His final touch is a bit heavy and the ensuing shot is just wide.  VIDEO

24' - Pappa whips a ball into the box, which deflects off Holden and falls for Rolfe, who's shot is cleared high of the goal.  It's incorrectly ruled a goal kick. VIDEO

33' - Ward heads the ball forward to Nyarko, who shields it and beats two defenders before slide tackling the ball on to the center for McBride.  The forward's shot forces a low save from Onstad. VIDEO

36' - Pappa sends a corner kick to the far corner of the six-yard box.  McBride heads the ball across goal to the near post for Nyarko, who redirects the ball on goal.  The shot is cleared off the line by Mulrooney.  VIDEO

39' - Pappa sends the ball ahead to Nyarko on the left flank.  The forward dribbles into space and crosses the ball into McBride just inside the box, who's shot is well wide.  VIDEO

48' - McBride heads the ball ahead to Nyarko, who heads it on to Pappa.  Marco gets around Waibel and sends a hip-high cross back into Nyarko, who's side-foot volley hits Onstad in the gut.  VIDEO

68' - Prideaux chips the ball ahead to Mapp on the left.  Mapp dribbles into open space and sends a cross through the 6-yard box, but Nyarko just gets a toe on the ball and can't redirect it towards goal.  VIDEO

71' - HOUSTON DYNAMO - Waibel sends the ball into Kamara, who shrugs off two defenders and chips the ball into Holden.  Stuart Holden runs free at Busch, but his shot is deflected and the follow-up effort is wide.  VIDEO

83' - HOUSTON DYNAMO - Holden's corner kick finds Waibel free just outside the six-yard box.  His header is wide.  VIDEO

If there was justice in football:
Total credible chances from both sides

Chicago Fire 8-3 Houston Dynamo

American football score:
Credible chance that weren't converted, or almost goals, are scored as field goals (3 points) and goals are scored as touchdowns (7 points).  Thus making a goal a little better than two almost goals.  

Chicago Fire 24-13

Let me know if I missed anything by commenting below.

LATER: Upon Further Review, Tactics

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