Chicago Fire 3, New England Revolution 0 | 2017 MLS Match Recap

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Nemanja Nikolic combined for all three goals as the Chicago Fire defeated a short-handed New England Revolution side 3-0 Saturday afternoon at Toyota Park. 

The former German international put the Fire up just before the halftime break from a sharp angle, and Nikolic doubled the lead two minutes into the second half. The Hungarian international then added an insurance goal - his fourth of the year - off a great build up from Schweinsteiger and David Accam. 

The game took a significant turn in the 27th minute when Revolution left back Je-Vaughn Watson was shown his second yellow card. 

• Paunovic on Fire: "The pieces are coming together."

GOALS

• 45' – CHI – Bastian Schweinsteiger - Watch
• 47' – CHI – Nemanja Nikolic - Watch
• 73' – CHI – Nemanja Nikolic - Watch

Three Things

DIFFERENCE MAKER: Bastian Schweinsteiger was brought in to be a difference maker, and, so far, so good. The Fire are unbeaten in the three games since the World Cup winner arrived in the Windy City, going 2-0-1 with Schweinsteiger contributing two goals and an assist.

THE TURNING POINT:
New England used a different left back for the third consecutive match, on Saturday handing the spot to Je-Vaughn Watson. It didn't work. Watson was shown a
yellow card for an elbow
on
Luis Solignac
in the 21st minute, and then a second yellow for
needlessly taking down
Solignac again just six minutes later. 

DOMINATING POSSESSION: If the scoreline didn't tell the story, perhaps this does: Chicago controlled possession by a margin of 76 percent to 24 percent. And yes, the red card had a lot to do with it, but so did a 90-percent passing accuracy and a midfield that also saw Dax McCarty and Juninho reunited, winning back control and starting attacks.

Next Up

• CHI: Friday, April 21 - at Toronto FC (7:30 pm ET | TSN 4/5; MLS LIVE in US)
• NE: Wednesday, April 19 – vs. San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE)