Chicago Fire FC got its first victory of the 2020 MLS preseason, riding goals from CJ Sapong, Elliot Collier and Robert Beric to a 3-1 win over expansion side Nashville SC in Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Chicago jumped on top in the first half, courtesy of Sapong, the club's leading goal-scorer in 2019.
Collier, who signed a contract extension on Thursday, would then double that advantage with a deflected finish, before Nashville's Randall Leal netted just before the halftime break for his club's first goal of the preseason.
Beric, Chicago's new Designated Player forward, added a second-half penalty kick to round out the scoring.
The result moves Chicago's preseason record to 1-1-0 ahead of their next exhibition match, which is scheduled for Feb. 12 against USL Championship side Orange County SC. Nashville moves to 0-1-1, with its next preseason match also set for Feb. 12, against the Montreal Impact.
Goals
- CHI - CJ Sapong
- CHI - Elliot Collier
- NSH - Randall Leal
- CHI - Robert Beric
Lineups
Nashville SC first-half starting XI: Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Dave Romney, Jalil Anibaba, Eric Miller, Anibal Godoy, Dax McCarty, Hany Mukhtar, Randall Leal, Abu Danladi, Dominique Badji
Nashville SC second-half XI: Adrian Zendejas; Brayan Beckeles, Ken Tribbett, Taylor Washington, Matt LaGrassa, Tah Brian Anunga, Alan Winn, Derrick Jones, Luke Haakenson, Daniel Armando Rios
Chicago Fire FC starting XI: Bobby Shuttleworth; Brandt Bornico, Nicholas Slonina, Francisco Calvo, Jonathan Bornstein, Mauricio Pineda, Djordje Mihailovic, Alvaro Medran, Elliot Collier, Robert Beric, CJ Sapong
