BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Sept. 16, 2016) – The Chicago Fire drew 2-2 on Friday night against D.C. United thanks to goals from Razvan Cocis and David Accam.
After falling behind 19 minutes into the match, Chicago charged back with a pair of first-half goals and carried their lead into the waning moments. A wild sequence that included a crossbar and a diving save in the second minute of stoppage time ultimately yielded the game-tying header for D.C. United.
Rob Vincent gave United an early lead, capitalizing on a rare indirect free kick in Chicago’s box. Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson dove to parry a ball rolling toward the ball, but the last person to touch it was a teammate at the play was deemed a pass back to the keeper. The result was a free kick from close range, an opportunity that Vincent slotted above the Fire’s wall and under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
Chicago rallied quickly with goals in the 22nd and 29th minutes. The first came from a corner kick as Arturo Alvarez linked with Cocis at the near post for a headed goal. Cocis was the passer the for the next goal, feeding Accam on the run before the Ghanaian winger crushed a shot low and past the outstretched arms of United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
Alvarez’s assist was his sixth of the season, matching his previous MLS career high from 2008.
The Fire pushed for a third goal, but close calls from Accam and David Arshakyan were narrowly off the mark.
Bobby Boswell tallied the final goal of the game with a header at the back post. D.C. United hit the crossbar to set the sequence off. Another shot flew on target from inside the box, but Johnson made a diving save to momentarily preserve the lead. However, the deflection fell into a convenient spot in front of the goal for Boswell, allowing the veteran defender to head his shot into the net from close range.
The Men in Red return to action against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 23. Kickoff is 7 p.m. CT on UniMas and 97.5 Poder.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (6-13-9, 27 points) 2:2 D.C. United (7-9-13, 34 points)
September 16, 2016 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 13,807
Scoring Summary:
DC – Rob Vincent (Luciano Acosta) 19
CHI – Razvan Cocis (Arturo Alvarez) 22
CHI – David Accam (Razvan Cocis) 29
DC – Bobby Boswell (unassisted) 90+2
Misconduct Summary:
None
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Joao Meira, Michael Harrington (Brandon Vincent 76), Matt Polster, Razvan Cocis ©, Arturo Alvarez (Joey Calistri 88), Luis Solignac, David Accam, David Arshakyan (Khaly Thiam 70).
Shots: 17; Shots On-Goal: 3; Saves: 4; Fouls: 7; Corners: 3; Offsides: 0
D.C. United: Bill Hamid, Luke Mishu (Nick DeLeon 54), Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell ©, Taylor Kemp, Marcelo Sarvas (Julian Buescher 76), Rob Vincent, Lloyd Sam (Lenny Neagle 70), Luciano Acosta, Patrick Nyarko, Patrick Mullins.
Shots: 19; Shots On-Goal: 6; Saves: 1; Fouls: 8; Corners: 8; Offsides: 3
