BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (May 9, 2018) – The Chicago Fire (3-4-2, 11 pts.) took three points on Wednesday night against the Montreal Impact (3-7-0, 9 pts.) thanks to an 89th-minute game winner from Kevin Ellis.
The veteran defender cut onto his left foot from the right edge of the box to create space for his shot. Ellis’ blast clipped an Impact player and redirected into the net in the waning moments for his second goal in as many games, and his seventh career MLS goal in eight seasons as a professional.
The Fire dictated terms for much of the evening with 62.5-percent possession, and created several quality chances before the determining goal.
Aleksandar Katai nearly opened the scoring twice in the same sequence in the 33rd minute. The Serbian attacker hit the post with a nifty back-foot clip, and then returned service on frame only to watch Montreal defender Daniel Lovitz clear the attempt inches short of the line.
Fire goalkeeper Richard Sánchez earn his second career shutout, while center back Johan Kappelhof picked up his sixth career assist on Ellis’ goal.
The Fire next face Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, May 12 at MAPFRE 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).
Postmatch Reactions | Paunovic | Ellis | Adams
Chicago Fire 1:0 Montreal Impact
May 9, 2018 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 10,067
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Kevin Ellis (Johan Kappelhof) 89’
Misconduct Summary:
MTL – Michael Petrasso (caution) 65’
CHI – Brandon Vincent (caution) 66’
CHI – Mo Adams (caution) 70’
Chicago Fire: Richard Sánchez; Kevin Ellis, Johan Kappelhof, Grant Lillard, Brandon Vincent; Mo Adams (Daniel Johnson 82’), Dax McCarty (C), Bastian Schweinsteiger, Aleksandar Katai; Alan Gordon (Elliot Collier 61’), Nemanja Nikolić (Diego Campos 72’).
Subs not used: Patrick McLain, Jonathan Campbell, Brandt Bronico, Tony Tchani.
Shots: 12; Shots On-Goal: 5; Fouls: 16; Saves: 2; Offsides: 2; Corners: 8.
Montreal Impact: Evan Bush; Michael Petrasso, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; Alejandro Silva (Louis Béland-Goyette 73’), Samuel Piette, Saphir Taïder (Matteo Mancosu 90’); Raheem Edwards, Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Dominic Oduro 78’), Ignacio Piatti ©.
Subs not used: Clement Diop, Chris Duvall, Victor Cabrera, Ken Krolicki.
Shots: 14; Shots On-Goal: 2; Fouls: 12; Saves: 5; Offsides: 2; Corners: 3.
