Kei Kamara scored two goals to lead the Chicago Fire to a 2-1 win over visiting Minnesota United FC on Saturday.
Fire goalie Chris Brady made five saves for Chicago (2-1-3, nine points), which dealt Minnesota (3-1-2, 11 points) its first loss of the season.
The Fire maintained possession for 51.6 percent of the game but put just two of their 14 shots on target, in addition to completing 84 percent of their 526 passes.
Minnesota United put six of their 10 shots on goal and completed 78.1 percent of their 488 passes.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Loons halved the deficit when Kervin Arriaga’s free kick from well outside the penalty box deflected off Brady’s hands and into the net in the 57th minute.
Kamara had given the Fire a 1-0 lead when his low shot deflected off the leg of Minnesota defender Miguel Tapias and past the outstretched arms of diving goalie Dayne St. Clair in the 24th minute.
The Fire doubled their advantage 12 minutes later. After taking a pass from Carlos Teran, Arnaud Souquet sent the ball into the penalty box, where Kamara’s diving header found the back of the net.
Kamara has scored the Fire’s past three goals. His goal in the 92nd minute lifted Chicago to a 3-2 win over host Inter Miami CF on March 25. The Fire played to a scoreless draw against visiting D.C. United last week.
The Fire dominated the first half against the Loons. Chicago’s two goals were just one fewer than Minnesota had allowed in its previous five games combined this season.
Chicago maintained possession for 61.8 percent but put just three of their nine shots on target. They also completed 86.5 percent of their 326 passes.
Minnesota United put three of their four shots on target, in addition to completing 75.1 percent of their 205 passes prior to halftime.
–Field Level Media
