The Chicago Fire will look to build upon their first win of the season when they host D.C. United on Saturday.
The Fire (1-1-2, 5 points) are coming off a dramatic 3-2 win over host Inter Miami CF last Saturday. D.C. United (1-3-1, 4 points) has dropped two straight after conceding a late goal in a 2-1 loss to the visiting New England Revolution that night.
Chicago received a goal from Kei Kamara in the 92nd minute to pull out a victory after squandering a 2-0 first-half lead.
Chris Mueller and Carlos Teran also scored for the Fire, who had been the Eastern Conference’s lone winless team. Brian Gutierrez had two assists while goalie Chris Brady made five saves for Chicago.
After Miami tied the game 2-2 in the 76th minute, the Fire rallied in the second minute of stoppage time. After getting a pass from Javier Casas, Gutierrez delivered a perfect pass into the box to Kamara, who drove it past goalie Drake Callender for the game-winning goal.
“This is a win that could really transform a team and really give you some momentum,” Chicago coach Ezra Hendrickson said. “We have three home games coming up now, so hopefully this will propel us into getting some full points at home.”
D.C. United gave up two goals in the final 27 minutes, including the game-winner in the 88th minute, against the Revolution on a rainy night in the nation’s capital.
After Christian Benteke’s team-leading third goal of the season staked D.C. United to a 1-0 lead late in the first half, Gustavo Bou tied the game in the 63rd minute.
The Revolution capped the comeback when D.C. United failed to clear a corner kick. New England’s 17-year-old midfielder, Noel Buck, collected the ball and drove a low shot that deflected off a defender and past helpless goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
“I feel like there’s only one team that is going to win the game and that was us,” said D.C. United assistant coach Pete Shuttleworth, who was filling in for Wayne Rooney because he was sick. “We were putting a lot of pressure on, and it just felt like we’re going to go and win the game and then we’ve been hit with a really unfortunate goal. … I don’t know how we lost that game.”
–Field Level Media