Nemanja Nikolic scored his MLS-best 12th goal of the season to help the red-hot Chicago Fire beat Atlanta United 2-0 on Saturday.
Luis Solignac opened the scoring for Chicago in the 29th minute after David Accam, got in behind the Atlanta defense and held up the ball long enough to set up his teammate.
And after Atlanta's Tryone Means handled the ball in the box following a corner kick, Nikolic scored from the penalty spot in the 70th minute to double Chicago's lead.
After finishing with the lowest point total in MLS the past two seasons, Chicago stretched its unbeaten streak to seven games and moved one point behind Eastern Conference leaders Toronto FC, while expansion Atlanta is eighth.