BRADENTON, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2017) – Five different players scored as the Chicago Fire downed Miami FC 5-2 on Sunday at IMG Academy Stadium.
Luis Solignac, John Goossens, Arturo Alvarez, David Arshakyan, and David Accam each found the net. The Fire deployed two separate units for each half, and posted multiple goals in both.
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Solignac gave the Fire an early lead thanks to pressure in Miami’s defensive third. Solignac stepped in front of an errant pass back to the goalkeeper, and then calmly slotted his shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Miami equalized seven minutes before the half. Vincenzo Rennella picked out Dylan Mares, and Mares finished from close range.
Goossens regained the lead for Chicago from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute. A Miami handball in the area allowed Goossens to step up for the spot kick, and the Dutch midfielder hit his shot into the roof.
Alvarez doubled the lead early in the second half with a left-footed blast from the 18 yards out. Jonathan Campbell fed the initial pass, and Alvarez created space with a cut into the middle on the dribble before unleashing his shot.
Arshakyan tacked on another in the 52nd minute with a half-volley on the doorstep. Juninho sent a knuckling shot toward goal that Miami’s goalkeeper blocked, but Arshakyan pounced on the rebound and finished neatly inside the far post.
The Fire built out of the back and finished with a beautiful team goal on their fifth and final tally. Drew Conner served as the fulcrum moving the ball up the field with a pair of give-and-go sequences, then found Nemanja Nikolic open at the top of the box. Nikolic had a look at goal, but slid a pass across the front of the goal to Accam for the final product.
Miami FC pulled one back after they were awarded a penalty kick from a VAR. Rookie goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland blocked the initial attempt from Ariel Pedro Martinez, but Martinez was quick to track down the deflection and finish the job.
The Fire upped their preseason record to 4-0-0 with only two goals conceded from the run of play to date. The Men in Red return to action on Wednesday against FC Cincinnati at IMG Academy (3 p.m. CT / live stream at Chicago-Fire.com).
QUOTE SHEET: Chicago Fire vs. Miami FC
MLS Preseason
Chicago Fire 5:2 Miami FC
Feb. 19, 2017 – IMG Academy
Attendance: NA
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Luis Solignac (unassisted) 3
MIA – Dylan Mares (Vincenzo Rennella) 38
CHI – John Goossens (penalty kick) 42
CHI – Arturo Alvarez (Jonathan Campbell) 49
CHI – David Arshakyan (unassisted) 52
CHI – David Accam (Nemanja Nikolic, Drew Conner) 63
MIA – Ariel Pedro Martinez (unassisted) 71
Misconduct Summary:
MIA – (caution) 73
CHI – Joao Meira (caution) 87
Chicago Fire: Jorge Bava (Stefan Cleveland HT), ^Taylor Peay (Michael Harrington HT), Johan Kappelhof (Jonathan Campbell HT), Matej Dekovic (Joao Meira HT), Brandon Vincent (Patrick Doody HT), Dax McCarty (Drew Conner HT), Brandt Bronico (Juninho HT), John Goossens (Arturo Alvarez HT), Luis Solignac (Nemanja Nikolic HT), Daniel Johnson (David Accam HT), Michael de Leeuw (David Arshakyan HT).
*Unsigned 2017 MLS SuperDraft pick
^Trialist
Miami FC: Vega (Herman 59’); Smith (Michel HT), Trafford (Ruthven HT, Ruthven 83’), Bernstein (Adailton HT), Borrajo (Freeman HT); Ryan (Steele HT), Mares (Lahoud HT), Rezende (Baggio HT), Poku (Martinez HT); Pinho (Chavez HT), Rennella (Dennis HT)
