D’Avilla and Lod Strike Early as Fire Win Fifth Straight, Edging Timbers 2-1

Photos by: Jessica Choragwicki

Two goals in a five-minute burst were all the Chicago Fire needed on Sunday at Soldier Field. Lod and Djé D'Avilla scored inside the first 14 minutes, and the Fire held on through a late Portland header to beat the Timbers 2-1 in front of 30,168 fans for their fifth straight win in all competitions.

It is the first time Chicago has strung together five consecutive wins since 2000, and the result was the club's 100th regular-season victory at Soldier Field.

Game Flow Recap: A Fast Start, Then a Long Wait

Lod opened the scoring in the 9th minute, finishing a move started by Andrew Gutman and D'Avilla. Gutman's assist was his fourth of the season.

Five minutes later D'Avilla doubled the lead himself, hitting a right-footed shot from outside the box after a pass from Maren Haile-Selassie, his seventh assist of the year.

Chicago took that 2-0 lead into halftime, and neither goalkeeper had to make a save in the first 45 minutes.

Star Performer: Djé D'Avilla

D'Avilla had a hand in both first-half goals, setting up Lod before scoring one of his own. His assist on the opener was his 27th for the Fire, moving him to eighth on the club's all-time list. He and Gutman were both named to the MLS Team of the Matchday.

Portland finished with more shots, 11 to Chicago's seven, but only two of them were on target. Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis kept the margin close with stops on a curling effort from Robert Lewandowski and a point-blank chance, while Chicago's Chris Brady needed just one save.

Turning Point: Surman's Header Comes Too Late

Portland pushed for a way back in after the break, but the breakthrough did not come until the 85th minute. Bye flicked on a ball into the box and Finn Surman met it with his head, with Lassiter credited with the secondary assist. It was Surman's first career goal, in his 51st appearance.

The Fire saw out the final minutes to protect the lead they had built in the first quarter of an hour.

What It Means

Chicago moves to 10-6-2 with 32 points, third in the Eastern Conference, and handed Portland its first-ever MLS road loss in Chicago. The Fire head to Orlando on Wednesday, August 19 to begin a four-game road trip.

Portland drops to 7-9-3 with 24 points, tenth in the West, and hosts San Diego FC on August 19.