Chicago Fire 1, Philadelphia

Union 0 | MLS Match Recap

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – A set-piece header from Adailton pushed the Chicago Fire past the Philadelphia Union 1-0 before a crowd of 12,815 at Toyota Park on Sunday, a physical match between two teams looking for their first win of the season on a typically cold Chicago spring afternoon.

Chicago controlled much of the first half in possession and scoring chances, as they never allowed Philadelphia to find a rhythm through much of the first 45 minutes.

That control would pay off for the Fire in the 37th minute, when a Harry Shipp free kick found the head of Adailton, the Brazilian center back applying a glancing touch to the inswinging delivery that stranded Union goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi in no-man's-land.

Philadelphia striker Fernando Aristeguieta kept Chicago's backline in check, attempting numerous times to break the offside trap in the first half, but to no avail. The Union's best chance came in the 30th minute, when Andrew Wenger found his way through the Chicago defense, only to lay the ball off to Aristeguieta, who cut the opposite way. The miscommunication squandered what should have been an open look on goal.

The Union came out more organized in the second half, but had to fend off more Chicago attacks as the game progressed. Mbolhi made a vital kick save to keep the Chicago lead at one goal after Shipp sent a weighted ball through the box to Kennedy Igboananike, whose well-struck shot was parried out of play.

The game would shift even more in Chicago's favor in the 72nd minute, when Philadelphia went down a man for the remaining 18 minutes after substitute Fred was shown a straight red card for a swing at Shipp.

Philadelphia would continue to press despite being shorthanded, but Sean Johnson was rarely tested in the Chicago net as the Fire claimed their first win of the season and ended an 0-3 start to 2015.

Next up for Philadelphia is a game on the road against Sporting Kansas City, while Chicago will face Toronto FC at home.

Real Salt Lake 2, Toronto FC 1 |

MLS Match Recap

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake almost let a home win slip away on Sunday night, but an unlikely hero came to the rescue to give them all three points against Toronto FC.

After allowing TFC to score an 88th minute equalizer, RSL found a game-winning goal from substitute midfielder Jordan Allen in the dying moments of the match to earn a 2-1 victory over the Canadian visitors. It was the first career goal for the 19-year-old Allen, who was making just the fifth appearance of his MLS career after missing most of last season due to injury.

Things got off to a slow start, but RSL got on the board first after some brilliant vision fromJavier Morales created a Luke Mulholland goal in the 38th minute.

Morales received a pass from Olmes Garcia at the left elbow of the 18-yard box, picked his head up and spotted a streaking Mulholland heading towards the back post. Morales lofted a perfect ball and Mulholland did the rest, powering his close-range header past Toronto ‘keeper Joe Bendik.

The home side nearly doubled the lead two minutes later. Forward Sebastian Jaime found himself behind Toronto’s defense and slotted a shot off the far post and in, but the assistant referee raised his flag, ruling Jaime offside and bringing the goal back.

Toronto FC controlled most of the second half, and should’ve had an equalizer in the 73rdminute. Defender Nick Hagglund rose to meet a Sebastian Giovinco corner kick, heading the chance home only to have referee Hilario Grajeda call him for a foul and disallow the goal.

TFC was undeterred by the tough call however, pushing forward frequently and forcing backup RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella – regular starter Nick Rimando is currently with the USMNT – into several big saves. Giovinco provided Attinella with his toughest test, knuckling a 25-yard free kick on frame in the 78th minute that Attinella dove to keep out at the right post.

It looked as if the goalkeeper’s heroics would be enough to seal the win, but RSL couldn’t quite hang on until the final whistle, allowing substitute midfielder Jackson to equalize just three minutes from full time. The Brazilian attacker fought through a couple of challenges, eventually picking the ball up in the center of the box and poking his shot past Attinella to make it 1-1.

Allen would score the winner for RSL less than a minute later.

RSL forward Devon Sandoval started the play, holding the ball up well outside the Toronto 18 and finding Morales on the right wing. Just like he did on RSL's first goal, the Argentine playmaker again curled a perfect cross into the area, finding Allen for a header at the back post to give RSL its first win of the season.

Both teams were missing some key players due to international call-ups, with RSL without Rimando, forward Alvaro Saborio and midfielder Luis Gil and TFC missing DP's Michael Bradleyand Jozy Altidore, among others.

Each club will return to action next weekend, with Toronto continuing its season-opening, seven-game road trip at Chicago on Saturday and RSL facing San Jose at the brand-new Avaya Stadium on ESPN2 on Sunday.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Date	Home Team
3:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Gillette Stadium	New England	2 - 1	San Jose	MATCHCENTER
4:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Olympic Stadium	Montreal	2 - 2	Orlando	MATCHCENTER HIGHLIGHTS
7:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at RFK Stadium	D.C. United	1 - 0	LA Galaxy	MATCHCENTER HIGHLIGHTS
7:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Yankee Stadium	New York City	0 - 1	Sporting KC	MATCHCENTER HIGHLIGHTS
7:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at MAPFRE Stadium	Columbus	1 - 2	NY Red Bulls	MATCHCENTER
8:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at BC Place	Vancouver	2 - 1	Portland	MATCHCENTER
8:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at BBVA Compass Stadium	Houston	0 - 0	Colorado	MATCHCENTER HIGHLIGHTS
8:30PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Toyota Stadium	FC Dallas	0 - 0	Seattle	MATCHCENTER
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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Date	Home Team			Away Team
5:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Toyota Park	Chicago		1 - 0		Philadelphia		MATCHCENTER HIGHLIGHTS
7:00PM EDT MLS Regular Season at Rio Tinto Stadium	Real Salt Lake		2 - 1		Toronto FC		MATCHCENTER HIGHLIGHTS