Philip Zinckernagel had a goal and an assist in the Chicago Fire’s 3-1 road win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
The Fire (3-1-1, 10 points) are on a three-match winning streak, and are 3-0-1 over their last four matches. Saturday’s result also ended the Whitecaps’ season-opening four-match win streak.
With the score tied 1-1 in the 62nd minute, Zinckernagel forced a crucial turnover at close range. Whitecaps midfielder Ralph Priso was about to clear the ball away after a cross into Vancouver’s box, but Zinckernagel stripped the ball away and then quickly converted the deciding goal.
Hugo Cuypers and Rominigue Kouame also scored for the Fire, and goalkeeper Chris Brady made one save on two shots on target.
Daniel Rios scored the lone goal for the Whitecaps (4-1-0, 12 points), who missed a chance to establish their longest winning streak over their 15 MLS seasons.
Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made two saves on five shots on target. Takaoka had allowed only two goals over the Whitecaps’ first four matches, and he took a 231-minute scoreless streak into Saturday’s match.
Cuypers ended Takaoka’s streak in the very first minute of play, while extending his own scoring streak to four matches. Seconds after the opening whistle, Zinckernagel took the ball down the right side, then crossed to Cuypers in front for the finish.
It didn’t take long for the Whitecaps to respond with Rios’ equalizer. In the 14th minute, Jayden Nelson made a nice pass to Rios, whose well-placed shot deflected off the post and into the net.
Nine different players have accounted for Vancouver’s 10 goals this season, speaking to the Whitecaps’ well-rounded attack.
Kouame missed Chicago’s first four matches due to injury, and he made his Fire debut as a substitute in the 87th minute. It didn’t take the striker long to make an impression, as he sealed the victory with a goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
