BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (May 20, 2018) – The Chicago Fire (3-6-2, 11 pts.) fell 3-2 against the Houston Dynamo (4-3-3, 15 pts.) on Sunday at Toyota Park.
The Fire rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead at the break thanks to goals from Nemanja Nikolić and Diego Campos. However, the Dynamo tallied twice to knock off Chicago for the first time in their last eight regular season meetings at Toyota Park.
Houston opened the scoring early in the first half after Tomás Martínez sprung Romell Quioto with a through ball near midfield. Quioto dribbled into the box and beat Fire goalkeeper Richard Sánchez to make it 1-0.
Nikolić scored his sixth goal of the season to level the match at 1-1 in the 14th minute. Schweinsteiger led Brandon Vincent into the box with a lofted pass, and the third-year left back centered with a first-touch header. Nikolić darted inside a Dynamo defender to polish off the chance on the doorstep.
Campos opened his MLS account moments later to give the Fire a 2-1 lead. Kevin Ellis was first to a deflected Schweinsteiger cross, clipping a pass to Nikolić at the top of the box. Nikolić surveyed the scene and slid a weighted ball through Houston’s back line and into the path of Campos, leaving the rookie midfielder one-on-one with Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis for a tap-in finish.
Alberth Elis equalized from the penalty spot for the Dynamo in the 57th minute after Sánchez was whistled for a foul in the box. Elis doubled his haul 16 minutes later to give the Dynamo their decisive 3-2 advantage. Elis took a pass from Óscar Boniek García near midfield and raced into the box before tucking his shot inside the far post.
Postmatch Reactions | Paunovic | Schweinsteiger | Campos
The Fire next face Orlando City SC on Saturday, May 26 at Orlando City Stadium (6:15 p.m. CT Pre-Game Show presented by CIBC / 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN+ and Univision Deportes Chicago 1200AM).
Chicago Fire 2:3 Houston Dynamo
May 20, 2018 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 14,206
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Romell Quioto (Tomás Martínez) 4’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolić (Brandon Vincent, Bastian Schweinsteiger) 14 ‘
CHI – Diego Campos (Nemanja Nikolić, Kevin Ellis) 16’
HOU – Alberth Elis (penalty kick) 57’
HOU – Alberth Elis (Óscar Boniek García) 73’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Mo Adams (caution) 38’
HOU – Óscar Boniek García (caution) 67’
HOU – Romell Quioto (caution) 79’
HOU – Alberth Elis (caution) 80’
CHI – Richard Sánchez (caution) 83’
CHI – Rafael Ramos (caution) 90’+1’
HOU – Joe Willis (caution) 90’+6’
Chicago Fire: Richard Sánchez; Kevin Ellis (Rafael Ramos 87’), Johan Kappelhof, Grant Lillard, Brandon Vincent; Mo Adams (Alan Gordon 73’), Bastian Schweinsteiger ©, Tony Tchani; Diego Campos, Nemanja Nikolić, Aleksandar Katai (Daniel Johnson 60’).
Subs not used: Patrick McLain, Jorge Corrales, Jonathan Campbell, Brandt Bronico.
Shots: 6; Shots On-Goal: 3; Fouls: 10; Saves: 2; Offsides: 2; Corners: 3.
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Andrew Wenger, Adolfo Machado, Alejandro Fuenmayor, DaMarcus Beasley ©; Óscar Boniek García, Eric Alexander; Alberth Elis, Tomás Martínez (Arturo Álvarez 87’), Romell Quioto (Luis Gil 85’); Mauro Manotas (Leonardo 78’).
Subs not used: Chris Seitz, Adam Lundqvist, Eric Bird, Memo Rodríguez.
Shots: 13; Shots On-Goal: 5; Fouls: 11; Saves: 1; Offsides: 1; Corners: 10.
