Chicago Fire FC Defeats Portland Timbers 2-1 in Coachella Valley Invitational

February 17, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release

Chicago Fire FC midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie readies a shot vs. the Portland Timbers
(Chicago Fire FC)

INDIO, Calif. – Chicago Fire FC came from behind to defeat the Portland Timbers 2-1 in a preseason match at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, Calif., earlier today in the team’s final match of the Coachella Valley Invitational. With the result, the Fire concluded its run in the annual preseason tournament with a 3-1-0 record.

Portland went up early in the match when Evander served a ball through the middle of the defense for Dairon Asprilla, who placed his shot into the lower right corner to give the Timbers the lead in the seventh minute.

Just when it looked as if Chicago would go into halftime down a goal, Gastón Giménez stepped up to take a free kick in Chicago’s half in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. The Argentine looked up to see the Portland goalkeeper off his line and sent a world-class strike from distance that slipped just under the crossbar to level the score.

The Fire went ahead in the 56th minute when Brian Gutiérrez collected the ball in the middle of the field, turned and carried it forward. He slipped it to his right for Fabian Herbers, who touched it further right for Maren Haile-Selassie making a run up the flank. The Swiss winger blasted a powerful shot into the net from just outside the six-yard box.

It appeared that Portland would tie the match when the referee pointed to the penalty spot in the 58th minute. Evander lined up to take the spot kick, sending it to the lower right side of the goal, but Chris Brady read the attempt and made a diving save to preserve the 2-1 lead for the Fire.

NEXT MATCH: Chicago’s 2024 regular season, driven by Carvana, will open on the road against the Philadelphia Union at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. Fans can watch the match on MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.

Social: Twitter – @chicagofire, @vamosfire (Hashtags: #CF97 #VamosFire) | Instagram – @chicagofire | Facebook

Box Score:

Chicago Fire FC 2:1 Portland Timbers

Goals:

POR – Dairon Asprilla (Evander) 7′

CHI – Gastón Giménez (unassisted) 45+2′

CHI – Maren Haile-Selassie (Fabian Herbers) 56′

Discipline:

CHI – Brian Gutiérrez (Yellow Card) 23′

POR – Juan Mosquera (Yellow Card) 28′

CHI – Federico Navarro (Yellow Card) 46′

CHI – Fabian Herbers (Yellow Card) 48′

CHI – Mauricio Pineda (Yellow Card) 49′

CHI – Georgios Koutsias (Yellow…