Late Schweinsteiger goal gives Fire win over Impact
Bastian Schweinsteiger scored the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute as the host Chicago Fire posted a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Impact on Saturday in Bridgeview, Ill.
Chicago rebounded after squandering an early two-goal lead as Djordje Mihailovic's corner kick found Schweinsteiger, whose header bounced inside the right post to give the Fire a 3-2 advantage.
Nemanja Nikolic scored his second goal in as many matches and captain Dax McCarty also tallied for Chicago (7-10-9, 30 points), which recorded consecutive wins for just the second time this season (May 8 & 11).
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Saphir Taider converted a penalty kick and Bacary Sagna also tallied for Montreal (10-13-3, 33 points), which fell to 1-6-0 in its last seven MLS matches overall and 1-5-3 in its last nine road games versus the Fire.
Montreal surrendered two quick goals before making goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm (one save) pay for an aggressive foul in the 32nd minute that resulted in both a yellow card as well as a penalty kick. Taider halved the deficit two minutes later with his team-leading ninth goal.
The Impact pressed for the equalizer before Jorge Corrales' cross found Sagna, whose header sailed into the bottom corner of the net in the 76th minute. The goal was Sagna's first of the season.
The Fire ignited early as Schweinsteiger settled a loose ball along the goal line before feeding McCarty, who unleashed a right-footed shot from the center of the box past Evan Bush (one save) to open the scoring. The goal was McCarty's first with the club.
Chicago doubled the advantage just 11 minutes later as Francisco Calvo forced a turnover before alertly spotting Aleksandar Katai, who unselfishly sent a cross that Nikolic converted from the center of the box.
Nikolic, who also scored in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Houston, has eight goals on the season to reside one shy of C.J. Sapong for the team lead.
