After putting in a complete performance en route to a two-goal lead at halftime, the Fire were less than satisfied in leaving the StubHub Center with only a 2-2 draw to show for their efforts Saturday against the LA Galaxy. As the Men In Red prepare to return home to host the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders, take a minute to review the most notable outcomes from Saturday's eventful affair:
- This marked the second straight Fire-Galaxy matchup in which Chicago held the upper hand at halftime before seeing the match finish level at two. The same was true in 2016, when David Accam and Arturo Alvarez scored in the opening half before -- just as on Saturday -- Giovani dos Santos provided an equalizer in the second half (last year's came in the 69th minute, Saturday's in the 65th).
- The Galaxy extended their unbeaten streak in the series between the two clubs to nine matches. The all-time Chicago-LA regular-season series ledger now stands at 15 wins for the Fire and 20 for the Galaxy, with seven draws.
- Accam's penalty kick goal in the 13th minute was the first scored by the Fire in Carson since July 9, 2011 (Cristian Nazarit). Chicago had been shut out in both their 2013 and 2015 visits to the Galaxy's home pitch.
- The penalty kick goal also marked Chicago's first from the spot in the 2017 season (nine games). The Fire began the weekend as one of eight MLS teams yet to score a PK this year. Chicago netted only two PK goals last year after back-to-back years (2014 and 2015) with a single-season club-record-tying seven.
- For Accam, the goal moved him further up the Chicago Fire's all-time scoring charts. He now has 22 goals in his 57 regular season appearances, tied with Dema Kovalenko, Damani Ralph and Mike Magee for eighth in Fire history, while his 27 goals in all competitions give him sole possession of seventh place for the club.
- Meanwhile, Nemanja Nikolic continued his impressive goal-scoring record in his first season in MLS, netting his sixth in nine matches. As of Saturday's matches, Nikolic -- who has five goals in his last five outings -- is one of nine MLS players to bag at least six goals this year, and is one behind the league-leaders (CJ Sapong, Erick "Cubo" Torres).
- Brazilian midfielder Juninho wore the captain's armband for the Fire against the club where he made his name in MLS, having helped lead the LA Galaxy to three MLS Cups in his six seasons in Carson (2010-15).
- Matt Lampson made his first appearance of the season in net, stepping in after Jorge Bave started the first eight matches of 2017. Lampson started 11 MLS games and four U.S. Open Cup matches in 2016, and prior to Saturday had not appeared in a competitive match since the Open Cup semifinal on August 9, 2016.
- Also new to Veljko Paunovic's Starting XI on Saturday was Homegrown product Drew Conner. A midfielder by trade, Conner made his first career MLS start at right back following four appearances as a reserve earlier this year. He played 75 minutes Saturday before being subbed off in favor of Jonathan Campbell.
- The Fire were issued two yellow cards in the match but, through Saturday, remain the least-cautioned club in MLS this season, with nine yellow cards tallied. The New York Red Bulls have received the most bookings with 26.
- Chicago (3-3-3, 12 points, sixth place) now return to Toyota Park to host defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday (May 13) at 8 p.m. CT. The match will air live on ESPN2 and begins a run of three home matches in four for the Men In Red.
