CHICAGO, IL. – Chicago Fire FC and Djordje Mihailovic hosted Sporting KC and Gadi Kinda on Saturday afternoon at Soldier Field. The Fire had taken 12 points in their last five games. Kansas City had a chance to go to the top of the Western Conference with a win.
Djordje Mihailovic Late Strike Rescues Point For Chicago Fire Against Sporting KC
The first half was fairly even in terms of chances and took a bit to get exciting.
Chicago nearly took the lead in the 20th minute off a crafty set piece, but Melia made a point-blank save off the line. Kansas City looked to play to the energetic Erik Hurtado up top.
That strategy paid off in the 35th minute. Off a turnover at midfield, Gadi Kinda found Hurtado who was able to go 1-v-1 with goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. Off balance, he was able to slot the ball into the far bottom corner.
The Fire looked good on set pieces and were finally able to make that count just before halftime. Robert Beric shot from short range with Melia off his like. In real time, Amadou Dia appeared to clear the ball off the line. After VAR got involved, head official David Gantar went to the sideline monitor and ruled that the ball did completely cross the line.
The half ended 1-1.
Kansas City had their own shout for VAR to get involved early in the second half. Cameron Duke, 19-years-old, jumped for a ball just inside the box and was kicked mid-air by a Chicago defender. The ball was cleared and nothing was called.
Perhaps karma repaid the visitors for that no-call in the 83rd minute. Ilie Sánchez got a flick on head at the near post on a corner. Gadi Kinda shook off his marker head the ball in from a few yards out.
The Fire were not burned out yet. In the final minute of stoppage time, Djordje Mihailovic made a run into the box on a long ball with Melia off his line. He held onto the ball and made a cut to create a shooting angle and scored. The match dramatically ended 2-2.
90'+5' GAME-TYING GOAL!
👏 Djordje Mihailovic! #CHIvSKC pic.twitter.com/0w9jWsIuvG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 17, 2020
Three Takeaways:
VAR: Video replay loomed large in this game, even by MLS standards. This writer has yet to see a convincing angle on the goal by Beric that shows the ball completely cross the line. No review on the tackle on Cameron was suspect as well.
Yeoman Hurtado: Erik Hurtado has scored two goals in two games for SKC with Alan Pulido not playing. He’s worked hard and helped his team, despite the criticisms he’s gotten this year and throughout his career.
Set pieces: Restarts loomed large for both teams. Each side had a goal off a corner that saw a flick on before the shot. Chicago also had a great chance on a short free kick in the 20th minute.
