BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 11, 2018) – The Chicago Fire (6-9-5, 23 pts.) rallied from a trio of one-goal deficits against the Philadelphia Union (7-9-3, 24 pts.), but ultimately fell by a 4-3 scoreline Wednesday night at Toyota Park.
Philadelphia’s Haris Medunjanin tallied the first goal of the evening by curling his left-footed shot around Richard Sánchez in the 31st minute.
The Fire equalized in the 39th minute after Aleksandar Katai -- whose transfer to the club was made official earlier in the day -- was taken down in the box. Fire forward Nemanja Nikolić powered his ensuing penalty kick past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake for his ninth goal of the 2018 campaign.
The Union regained the lead in first-half stoppage time when Cory Burke tucked his header just under the crossbar to make it 2-1.
Katai pulled the Fire level in the 69th minute after receiving the ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger on the left side of the field, just outside the 18-yard box. Katai took a touch before blasting his low, right-footed shot past Blake. With his goal, Katai pulled level with Nikolić for the team lead on the season.
The back-and-forth nature of the match would only continue, as Burke tallied his second of the night in the 73rd minute to give the Union a 3-2 lead.
In the 94th minute, Schweinsteiger rose to meet a Diego Campos corner kick and headed home a dramatic equalizer, his third goal of the season. The scoreline was short-lived, however, as former Fire forward David Accam delivered a game-winning strike for the Union in the 95th minute.
The Fire next travel to face FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Saturday, July 14 at 7 p.m. CT (ESPN+/Univision Radio 1200AM). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. CT with a live pregame show presented by CIBC on ESPN+.
Chicago Fire 3:4 Philadelphia Union
July 11, 2018 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 12,008
Scoring Summary:
PHI – Haris Medunjanin (unassisted) 31’
CHI – Nemanja Nikolić (penalty kick) 39’
PHI – Cory Burke (Fabrice-Jean Picault) 45+3’
CHI – Aleksandar Katai (Bastian Schweinsteiger) 69’
PHI – Cory Burke (unassisted) 73’
CHI – Bastian Schweinsteiger (Diego Campos) 90+4’
PHI – David Accam (Haris Medunjanin) 90+5'
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Jorge Corrales (caution) 5’
PHI – Cory Burke (caution) 8’
CHI – Johan Kappelhof (caution) 83’
PHI – David Accam (caution) 90+6'
Chicago Fire: Richard Sánchez; Kevin Ellis (Elliot Collier 13’), Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Jorge Corrales; Brandt Bronico (Alan Gordon 76’), Dax McCarty (C) (Tony Tchani 86’); Aleksandar Katai, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Diego Campos; Nemanja Nikolić
Subs not used: Stefan Cleveland; Christian Dean; Mo Adams; Jon Bakero
Shots: 11; Shots On-Goal: 6; Fouls: 9; Saves: 2; Offsides: 4; Corners: 4
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake, Raymon Gaddis, Keegan Rosenberry, Auston Trusty, Borek Dockal (Warren Creavalle 66’), Alejandro Bedoya (C), Haris Medunjanin, Cory Burke (C.J. Sapong 78’), Ilsinho (David Accam 17’), Fabrice-Jean Picault
Subs not used: John McCarthy, Jack Ellilot, Fabinho, Marcus Epps
Shots: 13; Shots On-Goal: 6; Fouls: 12; Saves: 3; Offsides: 1; Corners: 5
