Nemanja Nikolic and Brandon Vincent each scored goals set up by the work of Bastian Schweinsteiger, and the Chicago Fire twice came from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw against thevisting Portland Timbers on Saturday.
Vincent also contributed an assist on Nikolic's strike, the third of the season for the defending MLS Golden Boot winner, as Chicago earned its first point of 2018.
Reigning MLS MVP Diego Valeri scored his first goal of the new season, and Sebastian Blanco nodded in his third of the season to put Portland in front again in the second half.
But the Timbers settled for a second consecutive draw in the fourth game of a five-game road trip to open the season.
Goals
- 6' - POR - Diego Valeri Watch
- 50' - CHI - Nemanja Nikolic Watch
- 55' - POR - Sebastian Blanco Watch
- 84' - CHI - Brandon Vincent Watch
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Both teams have reasonable reason to hope their lot will improve as the season progresses. The Fire may have taken only one of six points from a pair of home matches so far, but they're battling a range of injuries, with winger Luis Solignac the latest to succumb. Portland, meanwhile, are showing incremental improvement under new boss Giovanni Savarese while continuing a tough away stretch to start the year
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Schweinsteiger's slaloming run to help set up Nikolic's goal was a sight to behold, and brought back memories of the former der mannschaft captain at his absolute best. There just weren't enough of those moments -- from Schweinsteiger or anyone else -- for either side to be worthy of three points.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Blanco has scored three of the Timbers' four goals so far this season, and that only tells part of the story. On Saturday, his dogged defensive work and assist set up Valeri's opener. He also saw 'keeper Richard Sanchez somehow push his ferocious volley late in the first half onto the crossbar.
Up Next
- CHI: Saturday, April 7 vs. Columbus Crew SC (8:30 pm ET | Full TV & Streaming Info)
- POR: Sunday, April 8 at Orlando City SC (4 pm ET | ESPN - Full TV & Streaming Info)
