Chicago Fire 2, Montreal Impact 2 | 2017 MLS Match Recap

On Saturday afternoon, Bastian Schweinsteiger wasted no time in showing the Chicago Fire the kind of impact he will make for his new club. The German legend opened his MLS account by scoring in the 17th minute of his debut with the Fire at Toyota Park. Then, after the Montreal Impact looked to have spoiled the day for Fire fans with two second-half goals, Luis Solignac rescued a share of the points for the Fire with a final 2-2 draw.

Schweinsteiger scored on a powerful header off a cross from David Accam, but the Impact's Matteo Mancosu tied things up in the 61st minute for Montreal. The Impact then appeared to have stolen the victory when Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla scored in the 90th minute, but Solignac's goal in the third minute of stoppage time gave Chicago reason to celebrate in the end. 

Doyle: Schweinsteiger won't fix all of Chicago's problems

Goals

• 17' – CHI – Bastian Schweinsteiger Watch
• 61' – MTL – Matteo Mancosu Watch
• 90' – MTL – Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla Watch
• 90+3' – CHI – Luis Solignac Watch

Three Things

INSTANT (AHEM) IMPACT:
Apologies for the pun, but Bastian Schweinsteiger really did make an instant impact for the Fire against the Montreal Impact. It wasn't just the goal he scored (although that was an impressive header), but Schweinsteiger, who had been wasting away on Manchester United's bench all season, came in and delivered for a Fire team that has been looking for some kind of (sorry again) spark. Schweinsteiger delivered some pinpoint passes, dribbled through some guys, and clearly took charge for Chicago. And he played 90 minutes, too, which was impressive in itself. This guy looks like he's going to be everything the Fire was hoping for.

PICKING UP THE SLACK: No Ignacio Piatti, no problem? Well, not exactly, but without their talisman, and without defender Laurent Ciman - injured while on national team duty with Belgium - the Impact did well to stun the Fire for two second half goals on a day when the hosts were celebrating the addition of Schweinsteiger and buoyed by his early goal. The Impact could have gone away quietly, but instead they rallied with two second-half goals -- the latter in the 90th minute -- to secure a big point in the early season. Of course, a pessimist would say they should have had all three points.

EVEN IT UP:
 Both teams finished a man down after Chicago's
Juninho
was given a second yellow in the 71st minute and Montreal's
Victor Cabrera
was given a second yellow in the 80th minute for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity when he held Luis Solignac just above the penalty box. Even in manpower and, at the end, even in goals.

Next Up

• CHI: Saturday, April 8 – vs. Columbus (2 pm ET | MLS LIVE)
• MTL: Friday, April 7 – at LA (10:30 pm ET | TVAS, TSN 4, TSN 5 in Canada, MLS LIVE in U.S.)