TORONTO (Oct. 23, 2016) – The Chicago Fire closed the 2016 MLS campaign Sunday, falling on the road by a 3-2 outcome to Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Fire forward Michael de Leeuw delivered the game’s first goal in the 19th minute, the seventh of his debut MLS season and the sixth in his last nine matches. But Toronto FC, which secured third place in the Eastern Conference by virtue of today’s results, equalized before halftime and struck twice in the second half en route to all three points.
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After a flurry of half-chances for the hosts through the opening 15 minutes, Chicago gained the upperhand thanks to an 18th-minute goal by de Leeuw. The Dutchman laid the ball off in midfield to Arturo Alvarez, who moments later played a return ball for de Leeuw that he was able to turn in past goalkeeper Clint Irwin from a tight angle.
Toronto came close to equalizing just two minutes later, when a corner kick led to a point blank header for Eriq Zavaleta that was parried away by Fire goalkeeper Patrick McLain, who recorded his Fire debut and his first MLS appearance since 2013 in the match.
But Toronto FC would later equalize through Sebastian Giovinco, who was fouled in the penalty area in the 44th minute before converting the ensuing spot kick.
The home side carried the momentum over to the second half, creating several early chances before a superb individual effort by Giovinco led to a Justin Morrow header for Toronto’s go-ahead strike.
Eight minutes later, Jonathan Osorio added a third for TFC when he received a through-pass by Armando Cooper and found space to finish past a drawn-out Patrick McLain.
The goal proved to be a necessary one for Toronto when first-half substitute John Goossens pulled one back for the Fire in the 83rd minute. A service by Brandon Vincent was headed by a TFC defender only as far as Goossens, who put his left-footed shot by Irwin for his third goal of 2016.
A stoppage-time chance for Fire midfielder Khaly Thiam went wide of the post as Toronto held on for a 3-2 victory.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (7-17-10, 31 points) 2:3 Toronto FC (14-9-11, 53 points)
October 23, 2016 – BMO Field
Attendance: 25,235
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Michael de Leeuw (Arturo Alvarez) 18
TOR – Sebastian Giovinco (PK) 45
TOR – Justin Morrow (Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley) 54
TOR – Jonathan Osorio (Armando Cooper) 62
CHI – John Goossens 83
Misconduct Summary:
TOR – Eriq Zavaleta 45+2
Chicago Fire: Patrick McLain, Rodrigo Ramos, Jonathan Campbell, Joao Meira, Brandon Vincent, Matt Polster (John Goossens 38), Khaly Thiam, Arturo Alvarez (Joey Calistri 81), Michael de Leeuw, David Accam, David Arshakyan (Razvan Cocis 70).
Shots: 10; Shots On-Goal: 3; Saves: 3; Fouls: 13; Corners: 1; Offsides: 1
Toronto FC: Clint Irwin, Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund, Steven Beitashour, Armando Cooper (Will Johnson 68), Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio (Benoit Cheyrou 68), Justin Morrow, Jozy Altidore (Tosaint Ricketts 61), Sebastian Giovinco
Shots: 16; Shots On-Goal: 6; Saves: 1; Fouls: 16; Corners: 8; Offsides: 4
