BRADENTON, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2017) – The Chicago Fire remained unbeaten in their preseason with a 3-2 win against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday at IMG Academy Stadium.
Luis Solignac, Michael de Leeuw, and Matej Dekovic accounted for Chicago’s goals. The Fire split halves with two separate lineups.
WATCH: Full Match Archive | Chicago Fire 3:2 FC Cincinnati
Solignac opened the scoring in the 31st minute. John Goossens provided the assist with an out-swinging cross that located Solignac open in front of the goal. The Argentinean striker nodded his header to the lower far corner to make it 1-0 Chicago.
The Fire doubled their lead midway through the second half. Patrick Doody crossed to Michael de Leeuw at the far post to begin the sequence. Michael de Leeuw connected on the other end with a powerful header toward the ground, and the shot deflected off FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Dallas Jaye. The ensuing rebound curled in the air and back toward the goal on the far post. FC Cincinnati’s Marco Dominguez attempted a clearance, but ultimately misfired into the roof of the net.
FC Cincinnati scored their first goal of the afternoon in the 88th minute with a header from Djiby Fall. Paul Nicholson played a long cross toward the top of the box, and Djiby won the ball with Fire goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland off his line to attempt a clearance.
Chicago regained their two-goal lead with a corner kick strike one minute later. Arturo Alvarez took the free kick and found de Leeuw at the far post. De Leeuw laid a pass back to Dekovic, who slammed his shot low and inside the near post.
Paul Nicholson pulled FC Cincinnati to within one with a free kick from Nicholson. The center back teed up from 22 yards out and beat Cleveland with a bending shot to the far corner.
The Fire upped their preseason record to 5-0-0. The Men in Red close preseason play against Toronto FC (2 p.m. CT / livestream at Chicago-Fie.com) at Tampa Bay’s Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 25.
QUOTE SHEET | Chicago Fire 3:2 FC Cincinnati
MLS Preseason
Chicago Fire 3:2 FC Cincinnati
Feb. 22, 2017 – IMG Academy
Attendance: NA
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Luis Solignac (John Goossens, Brandon Vincent) 31
CHI – Michael de Leeuw (Patrick Doody) 70
CIN – Djiby Fall (Paul Nicholson) 88
CHI – Matej Dekovic (Michael de Leeuw, Arturo Alvarez) 89
CIN – Paul Nicholson (unassisted) 90+1
Misconduct Summary:
CIN – Aodhan Quinn (caution) 21
CHI – Djordje Mihailovic (caution) 67
CHI – Drew Conner (caution) 72
CHI – Patrick Doody (caution) 74
CIN – Marco Dominguez (caution) 85
Chicago Fire: Jorge Bava (Stefan Cleveland HT), Michael Harrington (^Chad Barson HT), Johan Kappelhof (Joao Meira HT), Jonathan Campbell (Matej Dekovic* HT), Brandon Vincent (Patrick Doody HT), Dax McCarty (Drew Conner HT), Juninho (Djordje Mihailovic HT), John Goossens (Arturo Alvarez HT), Luis Solignac (Michael de Leeuw HT), David Accam (Daniel Johnson HT), Nemanja, Nikolic (David Arshakyan HT).
*Unsigned 2017 MLS SuperDraft pick
^Trialist
