MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Top Montreal Impact with Dramatic Game Winner

Published on May 10, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Fire (3-4-2, 11 pts.) took three points on Wednesday night against the Montreal Impact (3-7-0, 9 pts.) thanks to an 89th-minute game winner from Kevin Ellis.

The veteran defender cut onto his left foot from the right edge of the box to create space for his shot. Ellis' blast clipped an Impact player and redirected into the net in the waning moments for his second goal in as many games, and his seventh career MLS goal in eight seasons as a professional.

The Fire dictated terms for much of the evening with 62.5-percent possession, and created several quality chances before the determining goal.

Aleksandar Katai nearly opened the scoring twice in the same sequence in the 33rd minute. The Serbian attacker hit the post with a nifty back-foot clip, and then returned service on frame only to watch Montreal defender Daniel Lovitz clear the attempt inches short of the line.

Fire goalkeeper Richard Sánchez earn his second career shutout, while center back Johan Kappelhof picked up his sixth career assist on Ellis' goal.

The Fire next face Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, May 12 at MAPFRE Stadium (6:15 p.m. CT Pre-Game Show presented by CIBC / 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN+ and Univision Deportes Chicago 1200AM).

Quotes:

Veljko Paunovic - Head Coach, Chicago Fire

On the win:

"Absolutely huge win today. The importance of winning the game today is it just confirms that the team is progressing. It's getting better. It was very important that we could win the three points today also because the progression we had in the last month was huge. The confidence and building good momentum, especially here at home, winning the games and playing good matches and also it's important because there is important promise in the youngsters but also our veterans needed to see that we are working towards getting better. Putting all that together, having the game just three days after this one on Saturday, I think it's also important. It's not the same when you're tired and win, obviously, than when you lose. So definitely it's going to help us to prepare for the next game. To recover the guys earlier and get them ready for another match. You have only tonight to celebrate and to enjoy it. Tomorrow starts a new day and a new game."

On the matchup of Mo Adams and Ignacio Piatti:

"What he did was a work of art. He showed probably the entire world how to defend a player of that class. A player of that talent. Someone who at any moment can change the game and with the constant hard work, the effectiveness, and the dedication, Mo gave a great example to the rest of his teammates and to, perhaps, the rest of the teams in the league. It's not easy to defend Piatti. Piatti is a great player. I had the great honor to work with him last year in the MLS All-Star Game against Real Madrid. In those few days that we were together, I saw a phenomenal talent in him. That's why it gives it even more importance the job that Mo Adams did on him. We hope that he continues growing. He has to improve on the other facet of the game which is once he wins the ball back, he needs to be more involved in the organization of the game. But he's young and he has time. Definitely he has talent and we, as a staff, have a huge desire to work with him."

On the play of Kevin Ellis:

"It's amazing. The importance in the structure of the team when the moment comes for the veteran players, experienced players to step in and take the responsibility. Make decisions like he did. It's taking initiative in this game from him, in that moment, our game plan was we had to feed the box and he changed and he came inside and took the decision to take a shot. That's what we need. Improving what we prepare for our game and then building on top of that. Definitely his experience helped today and, most importantly, his character, his desire to win."

Kevin Ellis - Defender, Chicago Fire

On the victory:

"It feels good to get three points. Take the goal away, give credit to the team. We wanted to get a shutout and we got a shutout. I give credit to Mo Adams, taking one of the best players in the entire league and not giving him any joy in the game. Big credit to Mo, big credit to the whole team for working hard defensively. I'm fortunate enough to come up with a goal and we win the game, get three points."

On scoring in consecutive matches:

"God is good, man. I'm enjoying it, it doesn't happen often for anybody, so when you can score in multiple games, it's exciting. I feel good and I'm just trying to enjoy it, like I said. Big picture, most important thing is that we got a shutout and we got three points."

On the Montreal Impact:

"They're a good team, every team in this league is good. I think, credit to the staff, like I said again, credit to Mo Adams taking the biggest piece of their team completely out of the game, so that was good, big credit to him. That's what I take away from the game."

On the midweek game:

"It's always hard to play Saturday-Wednesday and now we have another game Saturday, but it's our job and we have to do well to recover and play the next game."

On scoring the game-winning goal:

"I got the ball out wide. I thought about crossing it, kind of faked a cross, a guy jumped in the air. Johan did a great job of pulling another guy out. Drove the ball in the box, had space, put it on goal and it went in."

Mo Adams - Midfielder, Chicago Fire

On marking Ignacio Piatti:

"It's a task given by the coach, we know that Piatti is one of their dangerous players and he can change the game if given the opportunity. I was given the task of marking him throughout the whole game and I think I did a good job of it. Didn't really have many chances and every time he received the ball, he was facing his own goal."

On playing as a defensive midfielder:

"It's been good. That's been a position I've played even coming through college, that defensive midfield role. I was also tasked as a freshman and sophomore in college in marking some of the best players in the country, so I think it's no different. I know what they can do, I watch film of the players from the night before, same with Almiron last week and Piatti today, obviously. But you can't just say just because I shut down Piatti, this was it. I think the whole team put a shift in, like Kevin Ellis once again getting a goal and winning the game, a very crucial game indeed."

--

Chicago Fire 1:0 Montreal Impact

May 9, 2018 - Toyota Park

Attendance: 10,067

Scoring Summary:

CHI - Kevin Ellis (Johan Kappelhof) 89'

Misconduct Summary:

MTL - Michael Petrasso (caution) 65'

CHI - Brandon Vincent (caution) 66'

CHI - Mo Adams (caution) 70'

Chicago Fire: Richard Sánchez; Kevin Ellis, Johan Kappelhof, Grant Lillard, Brandon Vincent; Mo Adams (Daniel Johnson 82'), Dax McCarty (C), Bastian Schweinsteiger, Aleksandar Katai; Alan Gordon (Elliot Collier 61'), Nemanja Nikolić (Diego Campos 72').

Subs not used: Patrick McLain, Jonathan Campbell, Brandt Bronico, Tony Tchani.

Shots: 12; Shots On-Goal: 5; Fouls: 16; Saves: 2; Offsides: 2; Corners: 8.

Montreal Impact: Evan Bush; Michael Petrasso, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; Alejandro Silva (Louis Béland-Goyette 73'), Samuel Piette, Saphir Taïder (Matteo Mancosu 90'); Raheem Edwards, Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Dominic Oduro 78'), Ignacio Piatti ©.

Subs not used: Clement Diop, Chris Duvall, Victor Cabrera, Ken Krolicki.

Shots: 14; Shots On-Goal: 2; Fouls: 12; Saves: 5; Offsides: 2; Corners: 3.

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