Katai Proves Worth in Fire Win

Chicago Fire 3-2 New York City FC

BRIDGEVIEW, IL–Aleksandar Katai has proven his worth to the Chicago Fire over the past couple of months. He especially proved his worth with two goals in a come-from-behind win for the Fire, 3-2, over New York City FC. It is the first time in league play that the Fire have won from a trailing position this season.

The win also vaults the Fire over the red line, two points clear in 6th over Montreal and Philadelphia with 15 matches to play.

Nemanja Nikolic opened the scoring after collected a thru-ball from Dax McCarty and beating the offside trap and then Sean Johnson far post in the sixth minute.

Towards the end of the first half, NYCFC started turning on the heat (no pun intended given the hot weather). They were rewarded with a pair of goals in four minutes. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi sent a shot from outside the area and caught Richard Sanchez flat-footed and inside the far post to equalize on 36 minutes. Four minutes later, Jo Inge Berget headed in a cross from Anton Tinnerholm to give NYCFC the lead.

At the start of the second half, Katai entered the picture. Going down the left side, Katai turned Ben Sweat and then fired from distance and beat Johnson far post to make it 2-2 in the 47th minute. Five minutes later, Katai would beat two defenders and give the Fire a 3-2 lead which they would labor to keep.

Berget headed a shot off the bar in the 73rd minute and Maxi Moralez had several shots in the second half, most of which were off target.

Katai’s loan spell from Alaves ends on Sunday. Do the Fire win this game without Katai?

“Maybe, maybe not,” said Fire captain Dax McCarty. “He scored two great goals. He’s a match-winner. He’s been a match-winner for us in the past couple months. He’s in tremendous form right now. When you got a guy that’s as hot as he is right now, creating chances and scoring goals the way he is, you got to get him the ball. You got to make sure that you get him dangerous position and he did that tonight.”

Whether Katai is still a member of the Fire or not, the Fire travel to Vancouver, next Saturday at 3:30pm on ESPN+. NYCFC, who was without David Villa due to a knee injury, return home a week from Sunday to host New York Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby.

SCORING SUMMARY:

CHI-Nemanja Nikolic (McCarty) 6

NYC-Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (Moralez) 36

NYC-Jo Inge Berget (Tinnerholm, Tajouri-Shradi) 40

CHI-Aleksandar Katai (McCarty) 47

CHI-Aleksandar Katai (Collier) 52

BOOKING SUMMARY:

CHI-Brandt Bronico (caution, reckless tackle) 10

NYC-Alexander Ring (caution, reckless tackle) 28

CHI-Richard Sanchez (caution, time wasting) 89

CHI-Alan Gordon (caution, persistent infringement) 90+1

CHICAGO FIRE (4-3-3): #45-Richard Sanchez; #17-Diego Campos, #16-Jonathan Campbell, #3-Brandon Vincent, #25-Jorge Corrales; #13-Brandt Bronico, #6-Dax McCarty, #31-Bastian Schweinsteiger; #10-Aleksandar Katai, #23-Nemanja Nikolic (#21-Alan Gordon 72), #28-Elliott Collier (#19-Mo Adams 66)

Subs not used: #30-Stefan Cleveland, #26-Christian Dean, #27-Rafael Ramos, #12-Tony Tchani, #22-Jon Bakero

NEW YORK CITY FC (3-4-3): #1-Sean Johnson; #33-Sebastien Ibeagha, #8-Alexander Ring, #6-Alexander Callens; #3-Anton Tinnerholm, #10-Maxi Moralez, #12-Ebenezer Ofori, #2-Ben Sweat (#17-Jonathan Lewis 75); #29-Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, #9-Jo Inge Berget, #19-Jesus Medina (#15-Thomas McNamara 90+1)

Subs not used: #41-Brad Stuver, #4-Maxime Chanot, #13-Saad Abdul-Salaam, #16-James Sands, #14-Kwame Awuah

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 5-19 NYC

SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-6 NYC

FOULS: CHI 12-5 NYC

OFFSIDES: CHI 3-0 NYC

CORNER KICKS: CHI 1-5 NYC

SAVES: CHI 4-2 NYC

Referee: Chris Penso

Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho

Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez

Video Assistant Referee: Caleb Mendez

Weather: Partly Cloudy and 93º