BAY LAKE – Chicago Fire FC put aside its awkward preparations for its first game of the tournament. Upsetting Seattle Sounders FC 2-1 at the MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Tuesday morning.
Hampered by schedule changes, Chicago was the underdog against the defending MLS Cup Champions. But the win put it top of Group B and almost certainly advance to the knockout stages.
READ MORE: Sounders and Quakes Blow Chances in Scoreless Draw
After a scoreless first half, the Fire switched to a 5-3-2, and it paid off in the 52nd minute when Robert Beric scored. He gathered possession in midfield and then ran through the Seattle defense, using a backheel to round Yeimar Gomez Andrade, before sticking it past Stefan Frei.
The Sounders fought back and in the 77th minute had things on level terms thanks to a perfect pass from Jordan Morris. He got to the byline and cut the ball back for Handwalla Bwana’s run for the goal.
But in the 84th minute, the new-look Chicago Fire had the winner. Seattle had failed to deal with a corner. Mauricio Pineda pounced, sending it home from the far post, his first professional goal.
The first half was scoreless, but not for lack of trying, Seattle was the stronger side but failed to make that count. Having struggled in the first match to put chances away, the Sounders’ trend continued for the Champions, with just one shot on target all game.
With just one point earned and only one game to play, the defending MLS Champions are almost certainly out of the tournament. It was a big moment for Chicago, snagging its first win after a controversial rebrand in the offseason, the new era now really launched for the club.
Photo Courtesy Matthew Stith
Florida Soccer Report 
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