BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The writing was on the wall as early as the seventh minute, as the Chicago Fire’s Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoff ambitions were quickly and ruthlessly destroyed by the New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park on Wednesday night.
Seven minutes was all it took for the visitors to expose the frailties in the Fire’s backline and punish some errant defending to allow Bradley Wright-Phillips to slot home the opening goal. The second arrived just four minutes later from Sacha Kljestan, assisted by more wayward marking by the Fire in the box.
From that point, there was no coming back for the Fire.