BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (April 16, 2016) – The Chicago Fire set a club record for consecutive minutes without allowing a goal on Saturday, but ultimately fell 2-1 against the Eastern Conference leading Montreal Impact.
The Fire took a 1-0 lead into the second half after Kennedy Igboananike scored in the 29th minute. A goal from Didier Drogba snapped Chicago’s shutout streak at 411 minutes, and Ignacio Piatti capped the comeback with a stoppage-time strike.
More: Match Highlights | Match Stats
Igboananike continued his in-form play with his team-leading third goal of the season. Arturo Alvarez started the sequence by picking out Gilberto with a pass to midfield from the edge of Chicago’s box. Gilberto took a touch and led Igboananike into the attacking third with a weighted pass. The Nigerian Designated Player gathered the ball onto his favored right foot and curled a shot from the left edge of the box over Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush and into the net.
Montreal equalized a little over 10 minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a Fire misclearance. Dominic Oduro intercepted a pass on the right wing, then centered to Drogba on the doorstep. The former Ivory Coast international didn’t waste his chance, redirecting the cross with the back of his heel for his first goal of 2016.
The Impact completed their comeback in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Similar to Igboananike’s strike in the first half, Piatti took a pass from Oduro on the left corner of the box and crushed a right-footed shot into the upper far corner.
The Men in Red have a bye next week, but will return to action against D.C. United at Toyota Park on Saturday, April 30. Kickoff is 4 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago and 97.5 FM Poder.
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MLS Regular Season
Chicago Fire (1-2-3, 6 points) 1:2 Montreal Impact (4-2-0, 12 points)
April 16, 2016 – Toyota Park
Attendance: 14,509
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Kennedy Igboananike (Gilberto) 29
MTL – Didier Drogba (Dominic Oduro) 56
MTL – Ignacio Piatti (Dominic Oduro) 90+1
Misconduct Summary:
None
Chicago Fire: Matt Lampson, Rodrigo Ramos, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Michael Harrington, Arturo Alvarez (Matt Polster 46), Razvan Cocis © (Nick LaBrocca 78), Michael Stephens, Kennedy Igboananike, John Goossens (Alex Morrell 58), Gilberto.
Shots: 10; Shots On-Goal: 2; Saves: 4; Fouls: 7; Corners: 6
Montreal Impact: Evan Bush, Hassoun Camara, Victor Cabrera (Wandrille Lefevre 45+1), Laurent Ciman, Donny Toia, Kyle Bekker (Marco Donadel 80), Eric Alexander, Johan Venegas (Didier Drogba 50), Ignacio Piatti ©, Harry Shipp, Dominic Oduro.
Shots: 14; Shots On-Goal: 7; Saves: 1; Fouls: 7; Corners: 10
