Robin Lod and Dje D’Avilla each scored a first-half goal on Sunday to help the Chicago Fire earn a 2-1 victory over the visiting Portland Timbers.
Despite being outshot 11-7 and holding possession for less than 40% of the game, Chicago (10-6-2, 32 points) won its second straight game in the team’s return from the two-week Leagues Cup break.
Finn Surman scored the first goal of his MLS career for Portland (7-9-3, 24 points), which had its two-game winning streak snapped. Playing their first game under new head coach Marti Cifuentes, the Timbers lost for the first time since May 23.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead on the first shot attempt for either team, as Lod posted his fourth goal of the season in the ninth minute. Andrew Gutman sent a perfect deep ball down the center of the field to Lod, who fired the left-footed shot past Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis.
The Fire doubled their lead five minutes later. Robert Lewandowski’s shot from close range was blocked by Kamal Miller, but Maren Haile-Selassie rebounded the deflection and sent the ball over to D’Avilla, whose shot redirected off Pantemis’ left hand and went in for the game’s second goal and his first of the year.
Portland had five shots to Chicago’s three, but none were on target for the visitors before halftime.
The Timbers’ first shot on goal came in the 56th minute, when Antony Alves Santos’ attempt from just outside the box was saved by Chicago’s Chris Brady.
Portland finally pushed one across in the 85th minute, as Brandon Bye headed an assist to Surman, who finished with a header of his own past Brady to cut the Timbers’ deficit in half.
Portland’s final chance of the game came in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, but Chicago’s Sam Rogers blocked Omir Fernandez’s shot to preserve the win.
Brady needed to make just one save in the win, while Pantemis finished with two for Portland.
–Field Level Media
