Philadelpha Union 3, Chicago Fire 1 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Jose Romero

Borek Dockal scored a late penalty and assisted on two goals, while Ilsinho and Cory Burke scored on either side of halftime to lead the Philadelphia Union to a 3-1 home win over the Chicago Fire Wednesday night.

Alan Gordon's 58th career MLS goal and second in two matches cut a 2-0 Union lead in half in the 56th minute, but the Fire missed other late chances and have lost three of four.

Ilsinho opened the scoring by splitting a pair of Fire defenders and fired the ball into the net just before the half. It was the Brazilian's third goal of the season.

Burke scored when he headed in a cross from Dockal in the 51st minute as the Union extended their unbeaten run to four.

Former Fire player David Accam started on the wing in place of Fafa Picault for Philadelphia, who was a late scratch due to an undisclosed injury. Chicago leading scorer Nemanja Nikolic was held out.

Goals

44' – PHI – Ilsinho | WATCH
51' – PHI – Cory Burke | WATCH
56' – CHI – Alan Gordon | WATCH
87 – PHI – Borek Dockal (PK) | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: The Union are within striking distance of the top six in the East, and for the moment put four points of distance between themselves and the Fire. A big road test in Atlanta looms, however, but Philadelphia have momentum going into that game against the conference leaders. The Fire had plenty of opportunities -- two more from Gordon -- but didn't finish enough of them, and will need Nikolic's scoring touch back on the pitch.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Ilsinho split Bastian Schweinsteiger and another Fire defender in fine fashion before putting away the game's first goal. It was worth watching several times.
Here's a quality Ilsinho #DOOP to head into the half 🙌

1-0 | #PHIvCHI https://t.co/hSxeMnjp97
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 31, 2018
MAN OF THE MATCH: Burke was active but Dockal's two assists were pivotal. He did his job and hit the attackers with solid passes, then stepped up for the game-sealing PK.