BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (April 14, 2018) – The Chicago Fire fell 1-0 against the LA Galaxy on Saturday at Toyota Park. The match drew the largest regular season crowd in Toyota Park history with 21,195 in attendance.
LA Galaxy (3-2-1, 10 pts.) forward Zlatan Ibrahimović provided the lone goal, heading in a cross from Ashley Cole in first-half stoppage time.
The Fire (1-3-1, 4 pts.) had chances of their own, forcing four saves from LA Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham. Nemanja Nikolic had a pair of briskly hit headers from inside the box that Bingham corralled, and Johan Kappelhof nearly hit the net with a dipping ball to the back post midway through the second half.
Three Men in Red reached participation milestones during the match. Homegrown Player and Hinsdale, Ill. native Grant Lillard made his first career MLS start, and rookie midfielder Jon Bakero earned his first appearance when he entered as a substitute in the 85th minute. Additionally, third-year center back Jonathan Campbell made his 2018 debut after missing the Fire’s first four games with a facial fracture.
The Fire return to the pitch on Saturday, April 21 against the New York Red Bulls (3-2-0, 9 pts.) at Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. CT on Univision Deportes, Twitter, and Univision Deportes Chicago 1200AM.
Chicago Fire 0:1 LA Galaxy
April 14, 2018 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 21,915
Scoring Summary:
LA – Zlatan Ibrahimović (Ashley Cole) 45’+1’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Romain Alessandrini (caution) 35’
CHI – Brandon Vincent (caution) 45’
CHI – Alan Gordon (caution) 48’
LA – Perry Kitchen (caution) 77’
LA – Ashley Cole (caution) 89’
Chicago Fire: Richard Sanchez; Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Grant Lillard, Brandon Vincent; Elliot Collier (Jon Bakero 85’), Dax McCarty ©, Tony Tchani (Diego Campos 70’); Nemanja Nikolic, Alan Gordon (Aleksandar Katai 61’).
Shots: 7; Shots On-Goal: 4; Fouls: 10; Saves: 4; Offsides: 3; Corners: 11.
LA Galaxy: David Bingham; Rolf Feltscher, Daniel Steres, Jørgen Skjelvik, Ashley Cole ©; Romain Alessandrini (Chris Pontius 66’), Perry Kitchen, Jonathan Dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget (Baggio Husidic 85’); Ola Kamara, Zlatan Ibrahimović (Emmanuel Boateng 80’).
Shots: 8; Shots On-Goal: 4; Fouls: 11; Saves: 4; Offsides: 6; Corners: 9.
