- Kevin Ellis - 61'
- Ezequiel Barco - 53'
- Josef Martínez - 57'
Ezequiel Barco nets first MLS goal as Atlanta United defeat Chicago Fire
Ezequiel Barco and Josef Martinez scored, and Atlanta United extended its unbeaten streak to eight with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Barco opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, beating goalkeeper Richard Sanchez with a rising shot that clipped underneath the crossbar. Miguel Almiron started the play with a takeaway from Mohammed Adams about 40 yards from goal and a drive to the top of the penalty arc, drawing in several defenders before feeding to an open Barco on the left flank. It was the 19-year-old Barco's first MLS goal.
Martinez doubled Atlanta's advantage in the 57th minute with his league-leading seventh goal of the season. Darlington Nagbe and Greg Garza had a give-and-go in the penalty area to draw Sanchez away from net before Nagbe laid it off to Martinez for an open-net finish.
Kevin Ellis pulled Chicago back to within 2-1 in the 61st minute, settling Garza's attempted clearance with his chest and smashing it back into the net for his first goal with the Fire.
Game Information
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami CF | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | +30 | 74 |
| Columbus Crew | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | +32 | 66 |
| FC Cincinnati | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | +10 | 59 |
| Orlando City SC | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | +9 | 52 |
| Charlotte FC | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | +9 | 51 |
| New York City FC | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | +5 | 50 |
| New York Red Bulls | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 47 |
| CF Montréal | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | -16 | 43 |
| Atlanta United FC | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | -3 | 40 |
| D.C. United | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | -18 | 40 |
| Toronto FC | 34 | 11 | 4 | 19 | -21 | 37 |
| Philadelphia Union | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | +7 | 37 |
| Nashville SC | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | -16 | 36 |
| New England Revolution | 34 | 9 | 4 | 21 | -37 | 31 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -22 | 30 |
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