Fire end three-game homestand with 1-0 win over Seattle

The Hearth may’ve allowed their season to finish after squandering a two-goal result in the Crew. After what occurred and the lengthy playoff odds, it wouldn’t have been shocking if that match broke this 12 months’s Hearth.

As a substitute, they’ve received their subsequent two matches, together with Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders.

“We simply didn’t need to lose this recreation tonight,” coach Ezra Hendrickson mentioned. “I’m so happy with the gamers as a result of it’s really easy all through this 12 months, this primary six-seven months to only surrender, however they by no means did. They by no means, ever gave up.”

In fact, the Hearth nonetheless have miles to go earlier than recovering from their 10-game winless streak and making the playoffs for the primary time since 2017. They’ll need to win extra usually on the street and constantly string collectively strong performances.

But with 13 video games left, the Hearth are three factors out of seventh place and have an opportunity, which is much more than most would’ve anticipated within the wake of the debacle in opposition to the Crew. And maybe the Hearth’s response is partially as a result of a prolonged workforce assembly they held earlier than Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Toronto FC.

Hendrickson mentioned they talked in regards to the factors they’ve thrown away this season, and the way the Hearth might be 12 or 15 factors higher if not for these miscues.

“They weren’t going to cease combating,” Hendrickson mentioned.

“We had been so dissatisfied and we knew we needed to change one thing,” mentioned captain Rafael Czichos, who scored the sport’s lone objective within the twenty third minute. “I feel we’ve sufficient high quality to play good soccer, and I feel we’ve been displaying it lots this 12 months already, that we’ve a very good workforce.

“[Losing the Columbus match] was mentally actually, actually troublesome for us and I feel we acquired collectively as a workforce and I feel the final two video games confirmed that we’re studying.”

The Hearth hope they received’t need to discover ways to play with out Gaston Gimenez for too lengthy. The Hearth designated participant left within the thirty seventh minute with a hamstring harm. Sadly for the Hearth, they had been additionally with out Jhon Duran (left ankle) after his two-goal breakthrough Wednesday.

Nonetheless, the Hearth held off the Sounders, who’ve struggled since successful the CONCACAF Champions League in Could however had been on the assault for a lot of the second half. Goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina recorded his ninth shutout, and maybe his largest save got here when he turned away Jordan Morris within the 88th minute.

Slonina, although, was already looking forward to the Hearth’s match Saturday in Vancouver.

“Clearly, we’re proper there now,” Slonina mentioned. “The playoffs are… we are able to make it. I consider on this workforce, I consider within the teaching employees and the idea they instill in us, so I feel if we simply hold plugging away in coaching and believing and having that confidence of how we performed, I feel that we’ll be in fine condition for Vancouver this weekend.”

NOTE: Per stories, Slonina has reached an settlement on private phrases with English Premier League membership Chelsea.

“There’s a number of speak going round, however I feel the principle focus is on Vancouver this weekend,” Slonina mentioned when requested in regards to the stories. “I feel that’s crucial. Simply staying centered and staying locked in and doing what I can day-to-day to ensure I’m ready for coaching the subsequent day. I feel that’s crucial.”