An energized Union came to play against the Chicago Fire Wednesday, seeming to understand that the team needed points to inch its way up the table. The scoring on the evening started with Ilsinho, characteristically bobbing and weaving his way to a snappy goal off of an assist by Boris Dockal right before half-time. And, just as the second half started, Dockal cut in for a pass from Ray Gaddis and crossed to Cory Burke, who reached out to pop a bouncing header past Chicago’s keeper, Patrick McLain. The Union fans were a bit concerned when the Fire’s Alan Gordon scored in the 56th minute, assisted Brandt Bronico and Aleksandar Katai, leaving the Fire within striking range of a draw. But Cory Burke, with the boundless enthusiasm of a year old retriever, pierced through Chicago’s defense and was pulled down in the 86th minute. As the photos below show, he was marginally inside the penalty box at the point of contact. Dockal took the PK to end the night in the Union’s win column, 3-1.
The Union’s Keegan Rosenberry defending Chicago’s Jorge Corrales.
Bastian Schweinsteiger — all by himself.
The Fire’s keeper Patrick McLain, in one of several nice saves on the evening.
After Ilsinho tip-toed by him to score, Schweinsteiger was determined to avoid a repeat encounter.
But Ilsinho has more than one card up his sleeve, as he makes clear to Chicago’s Aleksandar Katai.
Rosenberry scuttling a save between McLain and Corrales.
Could it be argued that Brandon Vincent’s penalty on Cory Burke occurred outside the box?
Regardless of location, the play set up the successful penalty kick by Philadelphia’s Boris Dockal.
Old Chicago friends David Accam and Schweinsteiger.
