LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 25, 2023) – Chicago Fire FC (1-1-2, 5 points) earned a hard-fought 3-2 win against Inter Miami CF (2-3-0, 6 points) on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium. Three different goal scorers added their name to the scoresheet in the Fire’s first win of the season to end Miami’s undefeated run at home.
Facing a Miami squad that dropped two consecutive road matches but hadn’t lost a match yet at DRV PNK Stadium this season, Chicago came back from a tie to earn a full three points for the first time this season, when veteran striker Kei Kamara scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
The Fire started the match with two changes to the lineup that faced FC Cincinnati last week. Defender Jonathan Dean made his first MLS start for the Fire and midfielder Fabian Herbers returned to the starting lineup after serving a one-game suspension. Also making his MLS debut was Mexican defender Alonso Aceves, who joined the team earlier this month.
Winger Chris Mueller scored for the second-straight match, putting the Fire ahead in the 30th minute. The ball was worked up the right flank and Maren Haile-Selassie passed it up for Brian Gutiérrez, who crossed it on the ground across the goal mouth. Forward Kacper Przybyłko hit the ball through as he made the run to the middle of the goal, and Mueller was at the right place to send a one-time shot into the net at the near post.
Just eight minutes later, defender Carlos Terán scored his first goal of the season for the Fire after winning the ball in the box following a free kick from winger Maren Haile-Selassie. Terán held off his defender on the right side of the box, turned and took a shot that was blocked by Christopher McVey. The rebound fell to Terán, who blasted the rebound into the far side netting with a powerful strike.
The teams went into halftime with Chicago leading 2-1 after Franco Negri got one back for the home side during first-half stoppage time. Nicolas Stefanelli then temporarily tied the match for Miami in the 76th minute.
With the game winding down, Kamara scored the game-winner in the 92nd minute when midfielder Javier Casas Jr. picked up a ball in the middle of the field and passed it off to Gutiérrez. The Chicago Homegrown carried the ball up the middle and passed it off to the left, where Kamara timed his run perfectly and hit a one-time shot inside the near post. Kamara’s goal was his first of the season for the Fire and the 140th goal of his career. He has now scored for a League-record 10 MLS teams in his career.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago returns to Soldier Field for a three-game homestand that begins against D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 1. The match will be broadcast live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+ and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.Â
Notes:
- Kei Kamara scored his first goal for the Chicago Fire, making him the oldest goal scorer in Club history at 38 years, six months and 24 days. The previous record was held by Arlington Heights-native Brian McBride at 38 years, four months and five days.
- Kamara also became the first player in League history to score a goal in 16 different MLS seasons.
With his start against Inter Miami CF, Schaumburg-native Chris Mueller has started 100 matches in his Major League Soccer Career. Mueller scored in a second-straight game, registering his second goal of the season and the 27th of his career. - Carlos Terán scored his third career goal for the Fire in tonight’s match.
After being held scoreless in the first two matches of the season, the Fire have scored three goals in each of its last two matches. - Mexican defender Alonso Aceves made his Major League Soccer debut in the 75th minute, coming on for winger Maren Haile-Selassie.
- Javier Casas Jr. made his first appearance of the season for the Fire, coming on for Fabian Herbers in the 62nd minute.
- Chicago’s victory marks the first time the visiting team has won in the five all-time meetings between Inter Miami and Chicago. The only other time the visiting side earned a point was a scoreless draw in Florida in the first game of the 2022 regular season.
- Defender Jonathan Dean slotted into the starting XI for the very first time this season. Dean has made two appearances as a substitute so far this season after being acquired from Birmingham Legion of the USL Championship in January.
After missing last Saturday's match due to a red card suspension, Herbers returned to the starting XI and partnered with Gastón Giménez in holding midfield. - After scoring his first goal of the season last weekend, Przybyłko slotted into the forward position for the fourth-straight match. He made the 99th start of his MLS career this evening in Miami.
- 19-year-old Homegrown product Chris Brady made his third-straight start in goal tonight.
- Midfielder Jairo Torres (right upper leg), midfielder Federico Navarro (left upper leg), and midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (right upper leg) are unavailable for selection due to injury tonight.
Box Score:
Inter Miami CF 2:3 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
CHI - Mueller (2) (Przybyłko 1, Gutiérrez 2) (WATCH) 30’
CHI - Terán (1) (WATCH) 38’
MIA - Negri (1) (Mota 3) (WATCH) 45+3’
MIA - Stefanelli (1) (Negri 1, Duke 1) (WATCH) 76’
CHI - Kamara (1) (Gutiérrez 3) (WATCH) 90+2’
Discipline:
MIA - Yedlin (Yellow Card) 13’
CHI - Terán (Yellow Card) 79’
MIA - Stefanelli (Yellow Card) 84’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Brady, D Souquet (Burks, 63’), D Terán, D Czichos (capt.), D Dean, M Haile-Selassie (Aceves, 75’), M Mueller, M Gutiérrez, M Herbers (Casas Jr., 62), M Giménez (Pineda, 54’), F Przybyłko (Kamara, 63’)
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Omsberg, M Monis, F RodrÃguez
Inter Miami CF: GK Callender, D Yedlin (capt.), D McVey, D Krysvtsov, D Negri (Neville, 82’), M Mota (Cremaschi, 87’), M Duke, M Ulloa (Lassiter, 58’), M Pizarro (Ruiz, 82’), F Jean (Borgelin, 58’), F Stefanelli
Subs not used: GK Marsman, D Mabika, D Sailor, F La Cava
Stats Summary: MIA / CHI
Shots: 11 / 17
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 2 / 5
Passing Accuracy: 87.3% / 73.7%
Corners: 4 / 4
Fouls: 14 / 10
Offsides: 1 / 1
Possession: 67.2% / 32.8%
Attendance: 17,699
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Ryan Graves
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Kevin Stott, Rene Parra
