Nicolas Gaitan contributed his first two MLS assists in his second start, Aleksandar Katai scored his long awaited first goal of the season and the Chicago Fire piled onto the Colorado Rapids' misery in a 4-1 victory at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday.
CJ Sapong tapped in his fourth goal of the season, Nemanja Nikolic added his third in as many games, and Djordje Mihailovic got his first as the Fire pushed their own unbeaten run to four games while sending the Rapids to a sixth straight defeat.
Kei Kamara scored his team-leading fifth of the season for visiting Colorado, remaining a bright spot for a side that has yet to win this season through eight matches. The Rapids' Jack Price was sent off in the 86th minute for a tackle from behind, following a Video Review.
Goals
- 34' - CHI - Nemanja Nikolic | WATCH
- 40' - COL - Kei Kamara | WATCH
- 53' - CHI - CJ Sapong | WATCH
- 61' - CHI - Djordje Mihailovic | WATCH
- 80' - CHI - Aleksandar Katai | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Any doubts over whether Gaitan, the former Benfica star and Argentine international, would be able to quickly acclimate to MLS following his most recent stint in China, should be silenced after he completed his first full 90-minute shift for coach Veljko Paunovic. Meanwhile, it's getting increasingly difficult to envision a way back this season for Colorado and coach Anthony Hudson, who removed one of the cornerstones in his squad, Kellyn Acosta, at halftime.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Gaitan provided the final pass — either on purpose or by accident — of a glorious third goal for Chicago that had a few echoes of the one Gaitan's homeland scored against Serbia in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Aleksandar Katai. Gaitan was excellent, but Katai was the Fire's engine throughout the encounter, creating the space for Gaitan to operate, rattling the woodwork in the first half, providing the service on Sapong's tap in, and finally opening his account this season with a stylish strike from distance.
Up Next
- CHI: Wednesday, April 24 at New York City FC | 7:30 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
- COL: Saturday, April 27 at Atlanta United | 6 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
