BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Veljko Paunovic hailed the “professionalism” of his players as the Chicago Fire produced a resolute performance to inflict a first defeat in seven games on high-riding LAFC.
Goals from Djordje Mihailovic, Nemanja Nikolic and Aleksandar Katai propelled the Fire into a 3-0 lead by the 66th minute, and despite a late goal from Diego Rossi, Paunovic’s side kept their nerve to see out a game and earn all three points. The win leapfrogged the Fire (8-16-7) above Toronto FC into ninth place in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Reds match against New England later on Saturday.