Chicago Fire beat Portland Timbers 2-1 in MLS, taking control with two goals inside the opening 14 minutes. Robin Lod and Dje Tah D'Avilla scored early and the Fire held on despite a late Portland consolation.
Lod put Chicago ahead in the 9th minute, converting Andrew Gutman's assist, and Dje Tah D'Avilla doubled the lead five minutes later from Maren Haile-Selassie's setup. Portland pushed for a way back and Finn Surman pulled one back in the 85th minute through Brandon Bye's assist, but the Fire saw the game out.
The stats show Portland dominated territory with 61% possession and 10 shots to Chicago's 8, yet the Fire created more big chances, four to one, and had the higher expected goals figure at 1.48 to 0.99. They were less clinical on the day, but the early burst was enough to decide the result.
