MONTREAL, Quebec(Aug. 18, 2018) – Forward Nemanja Nikolic scored his 11th goal of the regular season, but the Chicago Fire (6-15-5, 23 points) fell by a 2-1 score against the Montreal Impact (10-13-3, 33 points) at Stade Saputo on Saturday evening.
The Impact opened scoring in the sixth minute courtesy of a penalty kick by Ignacio Piatti.
The Fire equalized in the 70th minute. Nicolas Hasler sent in a cross from the right flank and found Nikolic for a snap header that forced a one-handed save from Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush. The ball popped back out to Nikolic, who pounced on the rebound and sent his low, right-footed shot into the back of the net.
With the score remaining 1-1 late into the match, Montreal’s game-winning goal came in the first minute of second half stoppage time, when Daniel Lovitz put a shot from distance past goalkeeper Richard Sanchez.
Fire Homegrown midfielder Djordje Mihailovic earned the start and played 59 minutes, marking his return from a right Anterior Cruciate Ligament rupture suffered on Oct. 25, 2017.
The Chicago Fire return home to host Columbus Crew SC at Toyota Park on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. CT (ESPN+/Univision Radio WRTO AM 1200). Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. CT with a live pregame show on ESPN+ presented by CIBC.
Chicago Fire 1:2 Montreal Impact
Aug. 18, 2018 – Stade Saputo
Attendance: 18,831
Scoring Summary:
MTL – Ignacio Piatti (penalty kick) 6’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (unassisted) 70’
MTL – Daniel Lovitz (unassisted) 90+1’
Misconduct Summary:
MTL – Rudy Camacho (caution) 24’
CHI – Jorge Corrales (caution) 41’
MTL – Bacary Sagna (caution) 68’
CHI – Dax McCarty (caution) 80’
Chicago Fire: Richard Sanchez; Nicolas Hasler, Johan Kappelhof, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Brandon Vincent, Jorge Corrales; Dax McCarty ©, Djordje Mihailovic (Michael de Leeuw 59’); Raheem Edwards, Nemanja Nikolic (Drew Conner 88’), Aleksandar Katai (Brandt Bronico 64’)
Subs not used: Stefan Cleveland, Christian Dean, Daniel Johnson, Alan Gordon
Shots: 6; Shots On-Goal: 2; Fouls: 17; Saves: 0; Offsides: 6; Corners: 2
Montreal Impact: Evan Bush, Rod Fanni, Rudy Camacho, Daniel Lovitz, Bacary Sagna, Ken Krolicki (Micheal Azira 67’), Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider, Ignacio Piatti ©, Alejandro Silva (Jeisson Vargas 82’), Matteo Mancosu (Quincy Amarikwa 62’)
Subs not used: Clement Diop, Jukka Raitala, Chris Duvall, Shamit Shome
Shots: 12; Shots On-Goal: 2; Fouls: 7; Saves: 1; Offsides: 4; Corners: 4
