NEW YORK – The Chicago Fire broke a two-game slide with a road point in a 2-2 draw against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Friday.
Romanian midfielder Razvan Cocis found the net in his first start of 2015 after missing the club’s first seven games with a foot injury he suffered during the preseason. Captain Jeff Larentowicz accounted for the Fire’s second goal with a penalty kick on a night that saw a 23-11 advantage in shots for Chicago.
WATCH: Match Highlights
Shaun Maloney thought he found the scoreboard eight minutes into the match, slamming a free ball into the net from close range. However, an offside flag negated the tally and an early 1-0 lead for Chicago.
Maloney exacted some revenge soon after, assisting on the Fire’s first goal of the evening. The offseason Designated Player acquisition delivered pinpoint service on a set piece to Cocis, whose header looped over the head of goalkeeper Josh Saunders for his first goal as a member of the Chicago Fire.
The Men In Red doubled their lead in the 27th minute with Larentowicz converting from the penalty spot. David Accam won the penalty after getting taken down from behind by NYCFC defender RJ Allen on a breakaway. Allen picked up a red card in the process -- with the nature and timing of the sending off closely mirroring that which occurred when the teams last met on April 24 -- giving Chicago a man advantage and a 2-0 lead.
Match Stats and OPTA Chalkboard | Postmatch Quotes
New York City FC pulled one back in first-half stoppage time. David Villa crushed a shot near the top of the box that Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson blocked, but NYCFC midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy was first to the rebound and finished for his third goal of the season.
Accam had a golden chance in the 74th minute after getting on the other end of a cross from Maloney, finding himself free near the 6-yard box and meeting the pass with a sliding attempt. However, the Ghanaian Designated Player narrowly missed making full contact and watched Saunders dive to save the shot on goal at the line.
The hosts found their equalizer with another stoppage-time goal, this time coming in the 91st minute. Villa took a pass from Mix Diskerud at the top of the area, redirected to Khiry Shelton and watched as the rookie slotted his shot just inside the far post to knot the game at two apiece.
The Men in Red return to action on Friday, May 22 against the Columbus Crew at MAPFRE Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Univision Deportes.
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MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (3-5-1, 10 pts.) 2:2 New York City FC (1-6-4, 5 pts.)
May 15, 2015 – Yankee Stadium
Attendance: 23,315
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Razvan Cocis (Shaun Maloney) 14
CHI – Jeff Larentowicz (penalty) 27
NYC – Mehdi Ballouchy (unassisted) 45+1
NYC – Khiry Shelton (David Villa) 90+1
Misconduct Summary:
NYC – RJ Allen (ejection) 26
NYC – David Villa (caution) 45+3
NYC – Shay Facey (caution) 52
CHI – Jeff Larentowicz (caution) 55
CHI – Joevin Jones (caution) 61
CHI – Shaun Maloney (caution) 63
NYC – Andrew Jacobson (caution) 71
New York City FC: Josh Saunders, RJ Allen, Jason Hernandez, Chris Wingert, Jeb Brovsky (Thomas McNamara 79), Mehdi Ballouchy, Andrew Jacobson, Mix Diskerud, Pablo Alvarez (Shay Facey 30), Patrick Mullins (Khiry Shelton 60), David Villa.
Shots: 11; Shots On Goal: 5; Saves: 7; Fouls: 11; Corner Kicks: 3; Offsides: 2.
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson, Lovel Palmer, ©Jeff Larentowicz, Adailton, Joevin Jones, Matt Polster, Razvan Cocis, David Accam (Jason Johnson 88), Shaun Maloney, Harry Shipp (Michael Stephens 71), Kennedy Igboananike (Quincy Amarikwa 68).
Shots: 23; Shots On Goal: 9; Saves: 3; Fouls: 14; Corner Kicks: 7; Offsides: 4.
