Bridgeview, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Fire fell behind in the opening
period but scored two second-half goals to pile more misery on 10-man Sporting
Kansas City with a 2-1 victory at Toyota Park on Saturday.
Bobby Convey's 31st-minute strike saw Sporting grab the lead, but the home
side was able to draw level after the restart thanks to a penalty kick from
Sebastian Grazzini. Roger Espinoza was given his marching orders shortly
after, giving the Fire the impetus to go on and eventually claim three points
thanks to Dominic Oduro's 81st-minute goal.
Chicago (4-2-3) is unbeaten in its last three league games to improve to 15
points through nine games, while Sporting (7-3-0) has crumbled after a perfect
start through seven games. Kansas City has lost three straight by a combined
score of 5-1.
Sporting drew first blood just after the half-hour mark Saturday when Espinoza
sent a low cross in front of goal as Bobby Convey redirected the ball past
Sean Johnson at the far post.
The visitors maintained that lead until just after the hour mark when Aurelien
Collin tripped up Oduro in the box. Referee Jose Carlos Rivero pointed to the
spot and Grazzini calmly lifted the ensuing kick into the upper corner past a
diving Jimmy Nielsen.
Things went from bad to worse for Sporting as Espinoza was sent off a minute
later after driving his elbow into Grazzini's face while challenging for a
loose ball in the air.
It took nearly 20 minutes, but the Fire ultimately took advantage of the extra
man as Oduro bagged the game-winner nine minutes from time. Sporting failed to
quickly clear their lines and Patrick Nyarko claimed possession in the penalty
before sliding a pass inside the six-yard box. Oduro was on the spot to stuff
home his fourth goal of the season.
Chicago hits the road after two consecutive home matches, heading to Jeld-Wen
Field to face the Portland Timbers on May 20. Sporting returns to action next
Saturday to face the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
The Sports Network