BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Aug. 24, 2016) – The Chicago Fire extended their home-unbeaten streak to 11 games in all competitions with a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday at Toyota Park.
After falling behind 1-0 in the 31st minute, Chicago charged back with two goals in a 5-minute span to take a 2-1 lead into the break. The Fire pressed for the rest of the match to find that third goal with a 17-8 shot advantage, but it was the Galaxy who broke through to tie the game in the 69th minute thanks to Giovani dos Santos.
Match HIghlights | Matchcenter
Los Angeles struck first just past the half-hour mark with a hard-hit volley from Gyasi Zardes. The Fire deflected a cross to the back post, the attempted clearance landed at Zardes’ feet in the center of the box. The lead wouldn’t stand for long.
The sequence began with a teasing cross that dipped dangerously into the box with Michael de Leeuw charging onto the scene. Galaxy goalkeeper Clement Diop came off his line and tried to push the cross away, but Alvarez answered on the other end with a forceful shot into an open net for his fourth goal of the season.
Moments later, David Accam hit the post with a bending shot from 20 yards. He amended that result from the penalty spot soon after. Luis Solignac drew the chance after Jelle Van Damme tripped the Argentine forward in the box. Accam followed with a calm finish in the lower right corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Reactions: Paunovic | Alvarez | Vincent
Chicago nearly increased its lead early in the second half after Accam won a footrace against Diop in the Galaxy’s half. The Ghanaian winger had a momentary look at the goal, but ultimately left a pass for Solignac at the far post with three Galaxy players arriving in the area. Solignac put the ball on his right, but misfired wide.
Giovani dos Santos leveled for Los Angeles in the 70th minute. Alan Gordon cut a pass diagonally into the center of the box and dos Santos clipped his shot with the outside of his left boot to make it 2-2.
The Fire have now scored two or more goals in their last three regular season matches, as well as their last three home games.
The Men in Red return to action against D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Saturday, August 27. Kickoff is 6 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago Plus and 97.5 Poder.
MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (5-11-8, 23 points) 2:2 LA Galaxy (9-4-12, 39 points)
August 24, 2016 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 16,179
Scoring Summary:
LA – Gyasi Zardes (unassisted) 31
CHI – Arturo Alvarez (unassisted) 34
CHI – David Accam (penalty kick) 39
LA – Giovani dos Santos (Alan Gordon) 69
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Jelle Van Damme (caution) 38
LA – Sebastian Lletget (caution) 71
LA – Baggio Husidic (caution) 77
CHI – David Accam (caution) 90+3
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Joao Meira, Brandon Vincent, Khaly Thiam (Michael Stephens 82), Matt Polster, Arturo Alvarez (John Goossens 73), Michael de Leeuw, David Accam ©, Luis Solignac (Joey Calistri 87).
Shots: 17; Shots On-Goal: 8; Saves: 1; Fouls: 16; Corners: 2; Offsides: 2
LA Galaxy: Clement Diop, A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, David Romney (Ashley Cole 85), Sebastian Lletget, Jeff Larentowicz (Giovani dos Santos 60), Baggio Husidic, Emmanuel Boateng (Alan Gordon 66), Gyasi Zardes, Mike Magee.
Shots: 10; Shots On-Goal: 3; Saves: 6; Fouls: 11; Corners: 1; Offsides: 4
