Photo Credit: Portland Timbers Twitter
The Chicago Fire rallied for a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers on Wednesday at Providence Park in the club’s second match of the 2015 Simple Invitational.
The Fire fell behind early after a deflected free kick from Michael Nanchoff found the net, but equalized in the 44th minute with an own goal off the head of Portland’s Norberto Paparatto. The Men in Red closed the match with a flurry of chances, but couldn’t find the go-ahead goal.
Chris Ritter saw the game’s first golden chance early on. After Quincy Amarikwa won a free kick near the corner of the 18-yard box, Michael Stephens hit a perfect cross on the ensuing free kick. The ball dropped right onto the head of Ritter, but his shot rose high of the target and out for a goal kick.
Nanchoff put the Timbers on top in the 22nd minute thanks in part to a fortunate deflection off a set piece. The winger took a free kick from a few yards outside the box, drilling it off the shoulder of a Fire player on the wall. The ball redirected itself into the far corner of the net, snapping Chicago’s streak of 291 minutes without conceding a goal during the preseason.
Chicago tied the game moments before halftime on a set piece. Stephens sent a corner kick into the mixer, narrowly missing Eric Gehrig’s head on a near-post run. However, Timbers defender Paparatto was trailing the play and mistakenly headed the ball into the far corner of the net to knot the game at 1-1.
Designated Player Shaun Maloney had about the best look of the second half in the 83rd minute. The Scottish midfielder blasted a shot from well outside the area, shaving the frame with a near miss.
Shahdon Winchester, a trialist from Trinidad and Tobago, had another go moments later. The winger took a pass and created a shot with a nifty first touch to create space from 20 yards out. However, his left-footed attempt went wide of the frame.
Chicago had a great opportunity to go ahead during stoppage time thanks to a well-placed cross from offseason signing Joevin Jones. The Trinidadian found trialist Albert Edward open in front of the goal, but he just missed full connection on a leaping-volley, sending the shot wide.
The Men in Red will continue the 2015 Simple Invitational action on Saturday, Feb. 28 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. CT.
