CHESTER, PA.(Sept. 23, 2017) – A second-half comeback attempt fell short on Saturday night as the Chicago Fire (14-10-6, 48 pts.) were undone by a 3-1 score against the Philadelphia Union (9-12-9, 36 points) at Talen Energy Stadium.
MLS Matchcenter | Highlights
Chris Pontius got the Union on the board in the 10th minute, finding himself on the end of a Keegan Rosenberry service into the 18-yard box and headed home the opener at the near post.
Pontius got a second in 55th to extend the Union lead. Philadelphia’s Fabrice-Jean Picault found himself with space to shoot at the top of the box and tested Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson with a low effort to his right. Lampson parried, but Pontius made the run in to finish the rebound and push the score to 2-0.
C.J. Sapong scored the Union third in the 64th. Philadelphia’s Fabinho played a low cross into the box from the left, where an on-running Sapong was able to get a foot to it and push it past Lampson.
The Fire would pull one back just three minutes later courtesy of Luis Solignac. The sequence began with a Matt Polster run down the right sideline. Polster played a ball in that found a waiting Nemanja Nikolic, who flicked the pass behind him to a waiting Solignac. The Argentine beat Andre Blake for his sixth goal of 2017 to bring the score to 3-1.
Despite good late looks from second half substitution Djordje Mihailovic on a free kick attempt and Nikolic from a close-range header, the hosts ultimately claimed full points with a 3-1 scoreline.
The Fire road trip resumes next Wednesday with a visit to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes on Sept. 27. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT with coverage on CSN Chicago Plus and Univision Chicago 1200AM.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (14-10-6, 48 points) 1:3 Philadelphia Union (9-12-9, 36 points)
Sept. 23, 2017 – Talen Energy Stadium
Attendance: 18,619
Scoring Summary:
PHI – Chris Pontius (Keegan Rosenberg, Warren Creavalle) 10’
PHI – Chris Pontius 55’
PHI – C.J. Sapong (Fabrice-Jean Picault, Alejandro Bedoya) 64’
CHI – Luis Solignac (Nemanja Nikolic, Matt Polster) 67'
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Matt Polster (caution) 16’
CHI – Johan Kappelhof (caution) 42’
PHI – Keegan Rosenberry (caution) 85’
PHI – Warren Creavalle (caution) 86'
Chicago Fire: Matt Lampson; Matt Polster, Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira, Brandon Vincent; Dax McCarty (Jonathan Campbell 78’), Drew Conner; Arturo Alvarez (Djordje Mihailovic 68’), Michael de Leeuw, David Accam (Luis Solignac 60’); Nemanja Nikolic.
Subs not used: Richard Sanchez, Michael Harrington, Brandt Bronico, David Arshakyan.
Shots: 11; Shots On-Goal: 5; Saves: 2; Fouls: 7; Corners: 3; Offsides: 1
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake, Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Richie Marquez, Fabinho (Raymon Gaddis 90+2’); Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin, Warren Creavalle, Chris Pontius, Fabrice-Jean Pinault (Marcus Epps 79’), C.J. Sapong (Jay Simpson 85’).
Subs not used: John McCarthy, Oguchi Onyewu, Roland Alberg, Charlies Davies.
Shots: 15; Shots On-Goal: 6; Saves: 4; Fouls: 14; Corners: 6; Offsides: 0
