BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Mike Magee recalled his first penalty kick of the year as he stepped up for his second during the Chicago Fire's 2-1 win over Colorado on Wednesday.
The first came when he was wearing an LA Galaxy uniform, and it came against Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin on March 23, the same man he was staring down in the 23rd minute of Wednesday's affair. Magee remembered seeing that first attempt, struck perfectly into the lower left corner, fly just past Irwin's fingertips.
So this time, as Magee took a few steps toward the ball, he faked left before deftly chipping the ball down the middle while Irwin flew to the same spot he had a few months before.
Chicago Fire 2, Colorado Rapids 1 | MLS Match Recap
“I was well aware,” Magee said when asked about his last encounter with Irwin. “He almost saved my first one, so I just figured I'd dink it up and over.”
WATCH: Magee's March 23 PK vs. Irwin
Magee, who has scored in all five of his appearances for the Fire, gave teammates and the crowd of 11,349 at Toyota Park a scare when he went down holding his back in the 42nd minute after taking a shot that was saved by Irwin. Magee said he hurt his back a play earlier when he collided with teammate Austin Berry.
The Fire's new sparkplug eventually continued playing, but he went down again in the 73rd minute before leaving the game.
After the game, Magee didn't seem worried, although the short turnaround before Saturday's game in Columbus (8 pm ET, MLS LIVE) may be cause for concern.
POSTGAME REACTION: Berry, Magee, Klopas talk 2-1 win over Colorado
“It's just tight, all good,” Magee said. “I think there were some nerves back there that felt a little funky, but now it'll be alright.”
If he does play on Saturday, he'll have a chance to extend his club record for most consecutive games with a goal to start a Fire career, which he set on Wednesday.
Normally candid, Magee gave a short answer when asked about his goalscoring streak.
“If I start talking about that, it won't be six in six,” Magee said with a smile. “So no comment.”
Anthony Zilis covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com.
