Daniel Gazdag and Julian Carranza scored three minutes apart to help the Philadelphia Union salvage a 2-2 draw against the host Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Gazdag also provided the assist on Carranza’s leveler as the Union (2-4-2, eight points) earned their first point away from home this season after taking 26 points on the road a season ago.
The draw closed a stretch of five matches in 15 days in all competitions for Philadelphia, which also had three road matches in a row in eight days. On Wednesday night, the Union earned a 2-2 draw at Atlas FC in Guadalajara, Mexico, to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.
Maren Haile-Selassie scored his first Major League Soccer goal for Chicago (2-1-4, 10 points), which suffered its only loss of the season in a visit to the Union back on March 11.
The Fire added to their lead on a bizarre second-half own-goal, when Jakob Glesnes’ attempted clearance bounded off Nathan Harriel and over the helpless Andre Blake to double the home side’s lead.
While it was a fortunate bounce, it was deserved, as Chicago dominated the opening hour. But the night turned suddenly when Miguel Navarro clumsily fouled Mikael Uhre at the edge of the penalty area in a position where Uhre was not likely to threaten the Fire goal.
Gazdag stepped up and smashed his penalty past Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady for his third goal of the season, all of those coming from the penalty spot.
Three minutes later, the Union went level through a gorgeous sequence. Quinn Sullivan initiated it with a run down the left side and an excellent left-footed cross to find Gazdag on the back post.
Gazdag headed the ball back across the box, where Carranza guided a first-touch finish into an open net.
Both teams had chances to take all three points in the closing stages. Philadelphia’s Jose Martinez saw his shot strike the post in the 79th minute. Not long after, Chicago substitute Georgios Koutsias saw his off-balance volley strike the crossbar.
–Field Level Media
