BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Sept. 29, 2018) – Playing a third league match in seven days, the Chicago Fire (8-16-7, 31 points) defeated Los Angeles Football Club (14-8-8, 50 points) 3-1, before a nationally televised broadcast on Univision Deportes, at Toyota Park on Saturday afternoon. Three different players scored in the win for the Fire, with midfielders Djorde Mihailovic and Aleksandar Katai and forward Nemanja Nikolic each finding the back of the net.
The Fire opened scoring in the 20th minute when defender Brandon Vincent recovered the ball deep on the left flank and sent a looping cross into the box, finding Mihailovic just inside the penalty area. Latching onto Vincent’s cross, the Homegrown midfielder blasted his full volley into the back of the net for his first goal of the season (VIDEO).
Just nine minutes later, Nikolic doubled the lead for the Fire after midfielder Brandt Bronico was taken down in the box in the 29th minute. Nikolic stepped up and sent his ensuing spot kick just inside the right post (VIDEO).
Shortly after entering the match, Katai finished the team’s third and final goal of the game after starting a counter attack from inside the Fire’s half. With Nikolic redirecting Katai’s pass in behind the defense to Mihailovic, the midfielder was able to run at the LAFC defense, before pulling the ball back toward the edge of the 18-yard box for Katai, who comfortably placed the ball between goalkeeper Tyler Miller’s legs and into the back of the net (VIDEO).
Diego Rossi provided a goal for the visitors when he struck a powerful effort from a difficult angle in the 73rdminute of play (VIDEO).
Next up, the Fire will travel to take on D.C. United at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Sept. Oct. 7 at noon CT. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and locally on Univision Radio WRTO AM 1200.
Chicago Fire 3:1 Los Angeles FC
Sept. 29, 2018 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 18,471
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Djordje Mihailovic (1) (Brandon Vincent) 20’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (15) (penalty kick) 29’
CHI – Aleksandar Katai (12) (Djordje Mihailovic, Nemanja Nikolic) 66’
LA – Diego Rossi (10) (Lee Nguyen) 73’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Dax McCarty (caution) 24’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolic (caution) 57’
CHI – Brandt Bronico (caution) 79’
CHI – Johan Kappelhof (caution) 93’
CHI – Aleksandar Katai (caution) 93’
Chicago Fire: Stefan Cleveland; Jorge Corrales, Johan Kappelhof, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Brandon Vincent; Dax McCarty ©, Brandt Bronico; Raheem Edwards, Djordje Mihailovic (Drew Conner 71’), Michael de Leeuw (Aleksandar Katai 65’); Nemanja Nikolic (Jonathan Campbell 87’)
Subs not used: Richard Sanchez; Daniel Johnson, Nicolas Hasler; Yura Movsisyan
Shots: 9; Shots On-Goal: 4; Fouls: 23; Saves: 5; Offsides: 3; Corners: 3
Los Angeles FC: Tyler Miller, Dejan Jakovic, Walker Zimmerman, Jordan Harvey, Steven Beitashour, Benny Feilhaber, Andre Horta (Christian Ramirez 70’), Eduard Atuesta (Lee Nguyen HT), Adama Diomande (Josh Perez 69’), Carlos Vela ©, Diego Rossi
Subs not used: Joao Moutinho, Calum Mallace, Luis Lopez, Marco Urena
Shots: 16; Shots On-Goal: 6; Fouls: 9; Saves: 1; Offsides: 9; Corners: 6
