TORONTO (April 21, 2017) – The Chicago Fire dropped the opening match of their three-game road trip by a score of 3-1 to Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday night. Despite a second half push from the Men In Red, a brace from forward Sebastian Giovinco and an Eriq Zavaleta header were enough to stave off the Chicago advance.
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After each team had an early finish ruled offside, Giovinco would get the hosts on the board in the 28th minute. The Italian collected the ball from Victor Vazquez at the top of the Fire 18-yard box and put a low shot past goalkeeper Jorge Bava to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.
Defender Eriq Zavaleta doubled the Toronto lead with his head four minutes later, finishing off a cross from Justin Morrow and giving the Canadian side a 2-0 lead they would carry into the break.
Giovinco would get his second goal in the 82nd minute. Toronto earned a foul within the Italian’s range outside the Fire area and his direct free kick attempt beat Bava to the upper corner.
The Fire would pull one back minutes later courtesy of second-half substitution David Accam. Accam took the ball on the run in transition in the 88th minute, and the ensuing give-and-go with Luis Solignac inside the Toronto 18 ended with a cool finish from the Ghanaian forward. The goal was Accam’s second of the season and capped scoring at 3-1.
The Fire’s road trip resumes next Saturday with a visit to the New York Red Bulls on April 29. Kickoff is set for 6:30 pm CT on CSN Chicago.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (3-2-2, 11 pts.) 1:3 Toronto FC (2-1-4, 10 pts.)
April 21, 2017 – BMO Field
Attendance: 27,097
Scoring Summary:
TOR – Sebastian Giovinco (Victor Vazquez) 28
TOR – Eriq Zavaleta (Justin Morrow) 32’
TOR – Sebastian Giovinco 82’
CHI – David Accam (Luis Solignac) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Dax McCarty (caution) 16’
CHI – Johan Kappelhof (caution) 24’
TOR – Jonathan Osorio (caution) 85’
Chicago Fire: Jorge Bava, Michael Harrington, Johan Kappelhof, Joao Meira, Brandon Vincent, Juninho ©, Dax McCarty, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Arturo Alvarez 84’), Luis Solignac, Nemanja Nikolic (Daniel Johnson 70’), Michael de Leeuw (David Accam 61’).
Subs not used: Matt Lampson, Jonathan Campbell, Drew Conner, Djordje Mihailovic.
Shots: 8; Shots On-Goal: 1; Saves: 6; Fouls: 11; Corners: 4; Offsides: 5
Toronto FC: Alex Bono, Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund, Justin Morrow, Steven Beitashour, Raheem Edwards, Michael Bradley ©, Marky Delgado (Jonathan Osorio 81’), Victor Vazquez (Jay Chapman 66’), Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco (Benoit Cheyrou 85’).
Subs not used: Mark Pais, Tsubasa Endoh, Armando Cooper, Tosaint Ricketts
Shots: 18; Shots On-Goal: 9; Saves: 0; Fouls: 19; Corners: 5; Offsides: 6
