Veljko Paunovic and the Chicago Fire did something very few clubs in MLS have done in recent years, taking three points from their visit to Red Bull Arena with a 2-1 defeat of the New York Red Bulls Saturday afternoon. Brush up on some of the many milestones and notable moments that made up the match:
EYE ON KATAI
Fans and players on both sides are likely still processing the wonder-strike off the left boot of Aleksandar Katai that gave the Fire a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. Starting for the first time since March 31, Katai delivered a goal-of-the-year caliber volley from outside the box that left Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles with no choice but to watch it sail into the upper 90. Katai threatened the Red Bulls back line throughout the match, later drawing the 1v1 foul from Robles that cued up Nemanja Nikolic's eventual game-winning PK goal.
The Serbian international's highlight-reel goal was his second strike of the year -- his first since opening day -- and remains worthy of another look regardless of how many times it's been viewed:
SANCHEZ ON THE SPOT
At the other end of the pitch, Fire goalkeeper Richard Sanchez stood on his head in a nine-save, Man-of-the-Match performance, befuddling the Red Bulls with acrobatic stops in both halves. His nine total saves marked the most by a Fire goalkeeper since Sean Johnson recorded the same number at New England on July 23, 2016.
NIKO NUMBER FIVE
Nemanja Nikolic stepped up to take the 69th-minute penalty kick earned by Aleksandar Katai, making no mistake in driving his shot past a diving Luis Robles. It was his fifth penalty kick conversion in six attempts since joining the Fire last season.
Through Saturday's games, Nikolic's five goals in 2018 have him one off the league-leading pace of six set by Atlanta United's Josef Martinez. The reigning MLS Golden Boot winner now has 29 goals in 40 MLS regular season matches, leaving him three behind Josh Wolff for fourth on the Fire's career record list.
RARE AIR
As alluded to earlier, few teams have managed to leave Red Bull Arena with victories in tow over recent seasons. The Red Bulls had not lost an MLS regular-season match on their home turf since June 24, 2017, a run of 11 straight unbeaten, and have never lost more than three such games at home in the eight-plus seasons they've called Red Bull Arena home. Chicago is now 3-6-1 in Harrison since the venue's 2010 opening and, with the win, snapped New York's six-game unbeaten streak in the regular-season series between the two teams, while also earning a small measure of revenge for their MLS Cup Playoff defeat at the hands of the Red Bulls last October.
The two teams are due to meet again on Saturday, August 11 at Toyota Park.
MORE ON THE MATCH
- Fire rookie Mo Adams recorded his first MLS appearance and start on the day, getting the nod alongside Dax McCarty and (per Opta) recording 12 defensive recoveries an four interceptions over his 90 minute shift.
- Bastian Schweinsteiger, Johan Kappelhof and rookie Grant Lillard formed a resolute 3-man backline in front of Sanchez, with Kevin Ellis -- back in the lineup after missing last week's match vs. LA -- and Brandon Vincent providing coverage on the outside.
- The Red Bulls finished with advantages in shots on goal (11-3) and possession percentage (63-27) in defeat.
