The Fire win again as the Impact grab a late draw at Sporting

Chicago Fire 2-0 Atlanta United

The Fire moved into second place and a point behind Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference with a win over Atlanta.

Chicago went one up after 29 minutes, David Accam had broken through on goal after being played through by Bastian Schweinsteiger. Accam still had plenty to do after rounding the keeper and seeing the target blocked by defenders on the goal line, but managed to keep his cool and lay off a pass to Luis Solignac who fired into the net.

With little chances falling to either team for the rest of the half, it was the Fire who grabbed their second from the penalty spot after Tyrone Mears handled. Nemanja Nikolic scoring comfortably from 12 yards sending Alec Kann the wrong way.

Atlanta struggled to find a way past a resolute Chicago defence who comfortably held on to a 2-0 win.

Sporting Kansas City 1-1 Montreal Impact

Sporting stayed top of the Western Conference as they were held to a draw with the Impact, who equalised late in the match.

Kansas almost went one up on 15 minutes after some good build up play and shot from Dom Dwyer cannoned against the bar and to safety. However, nine minutes later they found the back of the net. A long ball found Gerso Fernandes whose run continued into the area before he fired across the keeper and into the goal to lead at half time.

The Impact themselves hit the bar on 50 minutes after Ignacio Piatti’s shot was turned superbly onto the woodwork by Tim Melia. Montreal were looking the more likely to score and finally the equaliser came on 82 minutes. A poor back pass by Soni Mustivar put in Matteo Mancosu whose excellent chip over Melia dropped into the net to draw the sides level.

With four minutes remaining Montreal had Chris Duvall sent off an innocuous challenge. However, the Impact managed to hold on for the point, despite a late surge by Sporting.

Portland Timbers 2-0 FC Dallas

The Timbers continued their winning ways to move to second in the Western Conference with a good 2-0 win against Dallas.

It was Dallas who came closest to scoring first on 22 minutes after Roland Lamah had his shot cleared off the line. But it was the Timbers who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes. Sebastian Blanco played an excellent through ball to Fanendo Adi, who managed to stay on his feet before slotting the ball into the net.

With the Timbers going in one up at half time, they increased their lead in the 72nd minute. Adi again scored after a great dummy by Diego Chara. FC Dallas offered little going forward as they slumped to a 2-0 loss. Dallas have now dropped to forth in the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference

Club                      Pts.     Games

Toronto FC              29       15

Chicago Fire            28       15

New York City         24       15

Orlando City            24       15

Columbus Crew       22       16

NY Red Bulls            20       15

NE Revolution          20      15

Atlanta United          18      14

Montreal Impact      17      13

Philadelphia Union 16      14

D.C. United.              15      14

Western Conference

Club                      Pts.    Games

Sporting KC             26      16

Portland Timbers   24      15

Houston Dynamo   23      15

FC Dallas                  23      15

Vancouver W’caps  19      13

Seattle Sounders.    19      15

SJ Earthquakes       19       15

LA Galaxy                 18      13

Minnesota United   14      14

Real Salt Lake          14      16

Colorado Rapids      13      13