Sean Johnson doesn’t get to come home to Metro Atlanta often so when he does he makes it count.
The Chicago Fire goalkeeper had his latest visit Wednesday when the Silverbacks hosted his team in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
Chicago defeated the Silverbacks 3-1 in front of a season high attendance of 5,327. At least 100 of those fans were cheering solely for Johnson.
“I don’t really come back home a lot; it’s different for me,” Johnson said. “It’s an away field, it’s not a home advantage, the only thing is having the family and friends behind you to really support you and push you in a game like this.”
In his fifth season, Johnson has played 117 games with the Fire. Before joining the Fire, Johnson put in a year at the University of Central Florida. The Brookwood High School graduate and Lilburn native had somewhat of a homecoming after guarding Chicago’s goal the entire 90 minutes.
He chatted with old local friends, signed autographs for fans and spoke to reporters as the 24-year-old made his way across the field for the reunion that counted most — with his parents.
“He had a big showing out there,” said Joy Johnson, Sean’s mother. “It’s always wonderful to see them get together again, because I do miss that.”
Joy Johnson agreed the visit was too short (she jokingly said she’ll probably only spend a total of 24 minutes with her son) but still sweet—especially with a win.
The Silverbacks controlled the ball and kept Johnson busy. They had 52 percent of the game’s total possession and made five shots on target, compared to Chicago’s two shots on target. While Atlanta made 10 wide shots, Chicago only made five.
“I said to Sean, he kept us in the game. Great save first half and a great save second half on the breakaway,” Fire coach Frank Yallop said. “He’s played well this season for us and tonight was no different. That was a normal performance for him.”
Johnson, who has had some experience playing for the U. S. Men’s National Team in the 2013 CONCACAF Cup is staying in the present when it comes to his chances for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“It’s four years away so I think, just really staying focused and doing my job to keep my team in games is the most important thing,” he said. “I can’t really worry about too far ahead.”
Johnson’s wasn’t the only family reunion at Silverbacks Park.
Conyers native and Fire assistant coach Clint Mathis reunited with his family and his favorite Georgia food.
“Always get a Waffle House in there, just because they never had that in California and you don’t have it up in Chicago now,” Mathis said.
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