Robert Lewandowski scored his third MLS goal and first from the penalty spot midway through the second half, lifting the visiting Chicago Fire to a 2-1 victory over Orlando City on a stormy Wednesday night.
Puso Dithejane scored his second MLS goal early in his second start for the Fire (11-6-2, 35 points), who have won six in a row in all competitions and three straight in the league.
The latest victory, which came after a severe-weather delay of nearly two hours just before halftime, kept Chicago in third in the Eastern Conference, two points in front of the fourth-place Revolution and four points back of second-place Inter Miami. The Fire have played one fewer match than both New England and Miami.
David Brekalo leveled early in the second half for Orlando (6-11-3, 21 points), which has gone 1-2-2 in its first five matches of a six-match home stretch in all competitions, the last two matches coming in league play.
Antoine Griezmann added his second MLS assist since joining the Lions in late July. He sent in an in-swinging corner that Brekalo headed past goalkeeper Chris Brady in the 52nd minute.
Chicago went in front again 16 minutes later after Orlando defender Robin Jansson got his tackle wrong trying to defend Lewandowski on the left side of the penalty area.
Referee Rosendo Mendoza pointed to the spot after Jansson’s late challenge caught none of the ball and a lot of Lewandowski.
Lewandowski stepped up and coolly fired his shot into the bottom left corner as goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau guessed the wrong way.
Orlando had a few promising late chances to level again.
Griezmann fired wide in the 77th minute as a defender closed in on what started as a one-on-one breakaway. In the 88th, Marco Pasalic found space at the edge of the 18-yard box but fired directly at Brady.
Dithejane opened the scoring in the fourth minute on the second phase of an attack, driving a low shot from about 12 yards into the lower right corner.
It was the 22-year-old’s fourth goal in all competitions after he made two starts and scored twice during the first phase of the Leagues Cup earlier this month.
–Field Level Media
