David Accam scored two first half goals as his Chicago Fire side defeated Philadelphia Union 4-2 in a preseason friendly at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex on Thursday.
Accam opened the scoring in 14 minutes into the match after his corner kick earned Chicago a penalty kick after a Union player was whistled for a handball in the box. The Ghanaian winger sent his shot into the upper left corner to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, the Union equalized. Sebastien Le Toux found Fabian Herbers with a cross, setting the rookie up for a close-range finish.
The Fire re-took the lead five minutes before halftime with Accam scoring again. Trialist John Goossens sprung Accam with a pass from midfield, giving the speedster room to run. Accam beat his mark, dashed into the box and clipped a shot past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Accam had a chance for a hat trick midway through the second half. A Fire midfielder won the ball near the mid line and sent a pass into space behind Philadelphia's line. Accam was first to the ball and rounded Blake on his way toward goal, but watched a Union defender clear his shot off the line.
Nick LaBrocca made it 3-1 moments later, heading a blocked shot into an open net. Accam slipped a pass to Gilberto down the left flank to open the sequence. Gilberto dribbled toward the end line and then returned a pass to Accam at the edge of the box. Accam's shot forced Blake to make a save, but the ball popped into the air and LaBrocca was on the spot to head in his first goal of the preseason.
Gilberto capped the Fire's scoring four minutes later after a mistake by Philadelphia. The Brazilian forward stepped in front of an errant back pass, turned and coolly finished into the far corner.
Philadelphia pulled one back in the 83rd with Walter Restrepo and Warren Creavalle linking up. Restrepo sent a cross from the right side, floating a pass to Creavalle on the doorstep.
The match was Chicago's final friendly in Florida before breaking camp on Friday. The team will spend the weekend in Chicago before departing for Portland's 2016 Simple Invitational on Monday, Feb. 15.
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