Jacob Murrell scored on a spectacular bicycle kick from 12 yards out in the closing seconds to give D.C. United a 2-2 draw against the host Chicago Fire.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, The 20-year-old Murrell scored off a feed from the right flank by Aaron Herrera. The play came moments after Chicago had fended off a corner kick.
The play spoiled the home debut of first-year Chicago coach Gregg Berhalter.
The Fire (0-1-1, 1 point) appeared poised to win after Hugo Cuypers scored off corner kicks in both halves to give the Fire a 2-1 lead.
Chicago had just survived a penalty kick in the 91st minute as Christian Benteke’s attempt sailed high over the crossbar.
Benteke, last year’s MLS Golden Boot winner with 23 goals, was 3-for-3 last season on penalty-kick attempts.
It was the second straight draw for D.C. (0-0-2), which tied Toronto FC in the season opener.
Chicago’s scores came on two set pieces that looked remarkably similar, as 6-foot-6 Jack Elliott redirected corner kicks from Philip Zinckernagel across the box to the far post.
On the first goal, in the 30th minute, Cuypers headed it in to tie the match at 1-1. Cuypers right-footed the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute.
Cuypers’ first score survived a VAR review, with officials ruling that Chicago’s Jonathan Bamba did not interfere with D.C. keeper Kim Joon-Hong (two saves).
D.C. scored first as Gabriel Pirani took a long feed on the left flank and passed to Benteke, who got a step ahead of defender Sam Rodgers and right-footed a shot past onrushing Chicago keeper Chris Brady four saves) in the fourth minute.
Rodgers was making his MLS debut, filling in for Carlos Teran, who was a late scratch because of an injury. Rodgers also was called for a handball, which set up Benteke’s unsuccessful penalty kick.
Chicago was also without Brian Gutierrez, who was suspended for one game by the league’s disciplinary committee for throwing an elbow in the Fire’s 4-2 loss last week at the Columbus Crew. Gutierrez scored both Chicago goals in that match.
Saturday’s tilt matched former MLS powers who own the two longest playoff droughts in MLS — seven years for Chicago and five for D.C.
–Field Level Media
