Robert Beric continued his red-hot form with another goal, but Chicago Fire FC relinquished a 2-0 lead in the second half, settling for a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United at Allianz Field.
The result denied the Fire what would have been their first road win of the season, and kept them at 1.05 points per game, where they're level with the Montreal Impact in ninth place as they try to lock down one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Chicago held the late until late in the match, when Minnesota's Robin Lod struck for the equalizing goal 10 minutes from full time.
Beric scored the opener in the 17th minute, with a headed finish to the far post that he expertly nodded past Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair off a cross from Przemysław Frankowski. It was the 11th goal of the season for Beric, who is now tied with Columbus Crew SC's Gyasi Zardes for second in the race for the 2020 Golden Boot presented by Audi.
The Fire struck for their second of the night in the 52nd minute, when a botched clearance from Brent Kallman landed in front Mauricio Pineda in the box, allowing the Homegrown midfielder to slot home the finish past St. Clair.
Minnesota pulled their first one back in the 64th, as Jose Aja stuck his leg out to get a foot to a dangerous free kick from Emanuel Reynoso and toe-poke it into the goal. Lod then struck for an 80th-minute equalizer allowed the Loons to snatch a point, snapping home a headed finish off a cross from Romain Metanire.
Beric thought he had the winner just before the final whistle, but the Serbian forward was ruled offside on Video Review after chesting home a corner kick at the far post, which would have given Chicago a dramatic victory.
Goals
- 17' - CHI - Robert Beric | WATCH
- 52' - CHI - Mauricio Pineda | WATCH
- 64' - MIN - Jose Aja | WATCH
- 80' - MIN - Robin Lod | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It's a gut-punch for Chicago, which could have helped their playoff chances more with three points, and overcome a big psychological hurdle with their first road win. Raphael Wicky's group will be even more frustrated considering how much they controlled the action leading up to Minnesota's first goal, and seeing Beric come so tantalizingly close the late winner.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The Loons looked like they were headed to a disappointing home defeat, but Lod's late leveler ensured that wouldn't be the case.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: He'll wish his latest goal came in a winning effort and that his last goal had counted, but Beric has still been the man for Chicago since he started his torrid run back in September. The 29-year-old now has nine goals in his last 12 games and is living up to his Designated Player billing.
Next Up
- MIN: Sunday, November 8 vs. FC Dallas (6:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
- CHI: Sunday, November 8 vs. New York City FC (3:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
