CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, March 9, 2014) – The Chicago Fire (0-1-0, 0 points) fell 3-2 to Chivas USA (1-0-0, 3 points) Sunday afternoon at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. in the Fire’s 2014 season opener. After Chivas USA scored two goals in three minutes early in the second half, the Men in Red mounted a furious comeback as Benji Joya scored with his first touch of the match and Quincy Amarikwa equalized with a right-footed shot from distance, but Bobby Burling headed home the game-winner for Chivas USA in the waning minutes of the match.
The Fire next head to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. CT (My50/TWCSC Wisconsin/La Ley).
The Men in Red will host 2013 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners New York Red Bulls for Opening Day at Toyota Park, presented by Giordano’s Chicago Pizza, on Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Single game tickets to the Fire’s 17 MLS Regular Season home matches and to the July 26 international friendly against Barclay’s Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur FC are now available via Ticketmaster and www.Chicago-Fire.com.
MATCH REPORT: http://bit.ly/1ehT5H2
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: http://bit.ly/1hYBPdY
Notes:
- With the result, the Fire move to 8-6-3 overall in MLS regular season matches against Chivas USA, and 4-3-2 in matches played on the road.
- The Fire are now 5-5-5 when opening the season away from Chicago, and 5-6-6 overall in the first match of the season.
- Benji Joya scored 49 seconds into his Fire debut. With the goal, which was scored with his first touch of the game, Joya becomes the 10th Fire player to score in his debut appearance for the club.
Chicago Fire 2 – 3 Chivas USA
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Lovel Palmer, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Bakary Soumare, Gonzalo Segares; Patrick Nyarko (Benji Joya 63’), Alex, Jeff Larentowicz ©, Dilly Duka; Chris Rolfe (Logan Pause 75’), Juan Luis Anangono (Quincy Amarikwa 57’)
Substitutes not used: Patrick Ianni, Mike Magee, Kyle Reynish, Greg Cochrane,
Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy; Eric Avila, Bobby Burling, Carlos Bocanegra ©, Tony Lochhead; Agustin Pelletieri, Oswaldo Minda, Leandro Barrera (Adolfo Bautista 65’), Mauro Rosales; Erick Torres (Dani Fragoso 90’), Thomas McNamara (Luke Moore 79’)
Substitutes not used: Matthew Fondy, Trevor Spangenberg, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Donny Toia
Scoring Summary
CHV – Erick Torres (penalty kick) 56’
CHV – Thomas McNamara (Leandro Barrera, Mauro Rosales) 59’
CHI – Benji Joya (unassisted) 64’
CHI – Quincy Amarikwa (unassisted) 70’
CHV – Bobby Burling (Mauro Rosales) 88’
Misconduct Summary
CHV – Bobby Burling (caution) 40’
CHI – Gonzalo Segares (caution) 55’
CHI – Dilly Duka (caution) 61’
CHV – Carlos Bocanegra (caution) 77’
CHI – Benji Joya (caution) 78’
Referee: William Anderson
Assistants: Jairo Morales, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official: Javier Santos
Attendance: 8,320
