Kansas City v Chicago
Sporting Kansas City knock off Chicago Fire, secure playoff berth
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Dominic Dwyer headed in his 21st goal of the season to help Kansas City clinch a playoff spot and beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 on a rainy Friday night.
Kansas City (14-11-7) moved into second place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind D.C. United. Chicago (5-9-18) had its winless streak hit seven matches.
Dwyer is three goals back of New York's Bradley Wright-Phillips in the race for the Golden Boot trophy. Dwyer sailed a penalty kick over the crossbar in the 13th minute.
Sporting took a 1-0 lead in the 80th minute on Graham Zusi's curled shot from distance.
Chicago's Matthew Fondy had a deflected ball fall to him at the top of the 6-yard box in the 91st minute, but Kansas City goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum stretched out for the save. It was Gruenebaum's third clean sheet of the season.
Game Information
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville SC | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | +20 | 33 |
| Inter Miami CF | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | +11 | 31 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | +11 | 26 |
| New England Revolution | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | +4 | 25 |
| Red Bull New York | 15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | -7 | 22 |
| Charlotte FC | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | +1 | 21 |
| FC Cincinnati | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -1 | 20 |
| New York City FC | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | +4 | 19 |
| D.C. United | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | -4 | 18 |
| Columbus Crew | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -2 | 16 |
| CF Montréal | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -9 | 14 |
| Orlando City SC | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | -21 | 14 |
| Toronto FC | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -7 | 14 |
| Atlanta United FC | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | -9 | 11 |
| Philadelphia Union | 15 | 1 | 4 | 10 | -12 | 7 |
MLS News
