The Chicago Fire fell 3-2 to Liga MX champions Club America in an international friendly Wednesday evening at Toyota Park. Daniel Paladini and Sherjill MacDonald scored for the Fire but a Luis Gabriel Rey goal and two América penalty kicks proved the difference as Las Águilas emerged victorious.
The Fire opened scoring in the 19th minute when Maicon Santos danced into the 18-yard-box and send a looping cross to Paladini on the far post. Paladini chested the ball down and with a side-volley, slammed the ball into the back of the net to give the Fire the 1-0 lead.
The visitors would equalize six minutes later when Rey pounced on a loose ball in front of the goal and poked it in to bring Las Águilas level.
América took the lead with their first penalty kick of the night in the 63rd minute when Paladini was whistled for a hand ball. Fire ‘keeper Paolo Tornaghi dove correctly to his left but Rey’s slotted the ensuing penalty kick just inside the post to give the visitors the 2-1 lead.
América pulled further ahead in the 83rd minute when Michael Videira took down Antonio Lopez in the box. Lopez stepped up and sent his penalty to Tornaghi’s left to give his side the two goal advantage.
The Men in Red would pull one back in 91st minute when Quincy Amarikwa slipped the ball in through the América defense for Sherjill MacDonald. The Dutchman raced towards goal and curved his shot past América ‘keeper Carlos Lopez as the game ended 3-2.
