Chicago Fire FC Remains Undefeated at Home with 2-2 Tie Against Philadelphia Union at Soldier Field

April 15, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release

Chicago Fire FC ‘s Maren Haile-Selassie on game night
(Chicago Fire FC)

CHICAGO – Chicago Fire FC (2-1-4, 10 points) and the Philadelphia Union (2-4-2, 8 points) battled to a 2-2 draw at Soldier Field on Saturday night.

Despite racing ahead to a two-goal lead just two minutes into the second half, the Fire conceded twice in a two-minute stretch midway through the final 45 minutes, resulting in a point gained for each side.

Both Chicago and Philadelphia were keen to attack and Chicago’s first dangerous chance came in the eighth minute when the Fire intercepted a ball near midfield in their own defensive end. The loose ball fell into space, where defender Arnaud Souquet pounced with a one-time shot that sailed toward Andre Blake’s empty goal with the Philadelphia goalkeeper well off his line. The long-range shot, which would have been an instant Goal of the Year candidate, went inches over the crossbar. Chicago had another chance 10 minutes later when forward Kei Kamara trapped the ball in the box but hit a close-range shot just wide.

It was winger Maren Haile-Selassie that opened the scoring with his first Chicago Fire goal in the 19th minute. Chris Mueller passed a ball up the left flank for an overlapping Miguel Navarro, who sent a service in across the box. Kamara was in front of the goal, but left the ball for Haile-Selassie at the far post. The Swiss midfielder had a touch before sending it into the right side of the goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Chicago created a play that resulted in an own goal for the Philadelphia Union. Mueller, Souquet and Fabian Herbers combined on the right side to get the ball into the box, where Souquet played a pass in for Brian Gutiérrez. Philadelphia defender Jakob Glesnes tried to clear it, but it bounced off Nathan Harriel and into the net.

Philadelphia leveled the score with back-to-back goals in the 62nd and 64th minutes. The referee pointed to the penalty spot after a hard tackle just inside Chicago’s 18-yard-box and Daniel Gazdag lined up to take the penalty, sending it into the top left corner. Shortly afterward, a cross put into the box was met by a headed pass from Daniel Gazgad to Alejandro Bedoya for a low, driven shot that found the back of the net.

Chicago’s pressure didn’t let up and in the 82nd minute, some back-and-forth play between second-half substitutes Xherdan Shaqiri and Georgios Koutsias ended with Shaqiri lobbing…