Robert Lewandowski struck twice on his first home appearance as the Chicago Fire edged Charlotte FC 2-1 on Saturday. The result gave Chicago its first Major League Soccer victory since the international break ended.
Lewandowski, who arrived on a free transfer in late June, delivered a commanding display as the Fire (9-6-2, 29 points) moved closer to the Eastern Conference’s leading three teams. Charlotte (7-7-4, 25 points) has now been beaten in four of its past five away fixtures.
Pep Biel put Charlotte ahead in the 18th minute. He exchanged passes with Idan Toklomati near the edge of the penalty area, accelerated beyond his defender and drove the ball into the upper-right corner past Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady. It was Biel’s team-high ninth goal of the campaign.
Chicago answered only two minutes later through Lewandowski’s first goal for the club. Jonathan Bamba lifted a pass toward Philip Zinckernagel, whose header found the advancing striker. Lewandowski shaped to shoot, shifted the ball onto his right foot and calmly finished into the lower-left corner beyond Kristijan Kahlina.
The Fire nearly moved in front after Zinckernagel picked out an unmarked Robin Lod inside the area. The Finnish midfielder was unable to direct his effort on target from a difficult angle, while Lewandowski narrowly missed making contact at the back post.
Lewandowski released Zinckernagel with a perfectly weighted through-ball in the 56th minute, leaving him one-on-one with Kahlina. Zinckernagel delayed his attempt with an extra touch, allowing the goalkeeper to block the shot from a narrow angle.
Chicago scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute during a counterattack. Andrew Gutman found Lod near the edge of the box, and Lod slipped a pass through to Lewandowski. The former Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona forward beat Kahlina from close range to claim his second goal of the match.
Lionel Messi returned to MLS competition on Saturday as a second-half substitute in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew. The Argentina international was unable to score on his return, sending two attempts wide.
Luis Suárez registered his seventh goal across four matches to give Miami the lead in the 16th minute, before Casemiro’s own goal brought Columbus level. Suárez later supplied the cross for Noah Allen to head the home side back in front, but Brais Méndez equalized with a late free-kick on his Crew debut.
Tai Baribo completed a two-goal second-half comeback in the 77th minute as DC United secured a 2-2 home draw against Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC.
Nashville established a two-goal advantage in the first half through Sam Surridge’s penalty and Shakur Mohammed’s finish, scored eight minutes apart. Silvan Hefti reduced the deficit with a volley from a corner in the 56th minute, before Baribo’s effort from a wide position beat goalkeeper Bryan Schwake to earn DC United a point.
Quick Guide
MLS results
Show
New York City 1-1 Toronto; DC United 2-2 Nashville; Inter Miami 2-2 Columbus; Montréal 2-2 New England; New York Red Bulls 3-2 Orlando; Philadelphia Union 3-2 Atlanta United; Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1 LAFC; Chicago 2-1 Charlotte; Sporting KC 0-2 Houston Dynamo; Minnesota United 1-1 San Diego; St Louis City 1-1 Real Salt Lake; Colorado Rapids 1-0 Austin; Cincinnati 4-2 San Jose; LA Galaxy 0-0 Dallas; Portland Timbers 2-1 Seattle Sounders.
Thomas Müller converted a penalty to earn the Vancouver Whitecaps a 1-1 draw with LAFC in their return to BC Place Stadium. Son Heung-min had put the visitors in front with a sharp turn and finish, but Müller won a spot-kick after Yevhen Cheberko brought him down inside the area and scored from it in the 76th minute.
Brandon Bye found the net in the 82nd minute to give the Portland Timbers a 2-1 victory and condemn the Seattle Sounders to a sixth consecutive defeat. Kevin Kelsey also scored for Portland, extending the Timbers’ unbeaten run to four games. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi supplied Seattle’s goal as the injury-hit team suffered another setback.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
