Chicago Fire control pace in win over Minnesota United

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:23 am

The resurgent Chicago Fire offense led the team to another MLS win, besting the visiting Minnesota United 2-0 on Saturday night.

Chicago (4-4-4, 16 points) has scored seven goals in its last two games after going three matches without scoring. The surge has taken the team from well back in the Eastern Conference into a possible playoff position, albeit early in the season.

Minnesota (4-4-3, 15 points) has now played seven of its 11 on the road and dropped to 3-4-0 away from their new, Allianz Field. The loss leaves Minnesota ahead of the pace from its first two MLS seasons, but with only one win in its last six games.

It was a game nowhere near as close as the 2-0 score would indicate, as the Fire controlled play throughout and outshot Minnesota 15-5.

The second half was an uneventful 45 minutes as there were few legitimate scoring chances, but for Chicago it didn't matter as the first half was more than enough to earn a second straight win.

Przemyslaw Frankowski
Przemyslaw Frankowski
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago scored the first goal of the game in the 21st minute on a brilliant, full-field counter off a Minnesota corner kick.

A clear from the Chicago defense found Przemyslaw Frankowski behind the Minnesota defense, near midfield. Frankowski went off to the races, getting to the edge of the penalty box just as the Minnesota defense was closing in.

Undaunted, he rolled the ball into the middle where Nicolas Gaitan beat the Minnesota defense to the ball, tapped it around goalie Vito Mannone and put it home for the 1-0 lead.

The Fire doubled their lead in the 34th minute.

Aleksandar Katai took a long pass down the left side, brought it into the Minnesota penalty area and beat Mannone to the far post for the goal.