USMNT midfielder Kellyn Acosta scored his first goal for the Chicago Fire in surreal fashion, sealing a comeback win against CF Montreal on Saturday.
After going down 3-1 to visiting Montreal, Chicago was given a lifeline when Raheem Edwards was sent off in the 82nd minute. Brian Gutierrez cut the deficit in half with the ensuing penalty kick, but the Fire still entered the nine minutes of added time down 3-2. In the fifth minute of added time, Chicago’s club record offseason signing Hugo Cuypers scored his first MLS goal to equalize. Then, in the ninth minute of added time, Acosta desperately launched the ball up into the wind from beyond the halfway line.
When the ball landed, Chicago was up 4-3.
Acosta didn’t even try to claim credit for the strange goal when asked about it by reporters after the match, instead putting it down to Monday’s holiday.
“I mean, I don’t know what to tell you to be honest,” Acosta said. “I think that was (Fire goalkeeper) Chris Brady’s first assist so congrats to Chris. I mean for me it was just about getting the ball in the mixed zone basically and create some things. I had some balls that I found in the back post and if I’m being fully transparent that’s what I tried to do again.
“This time though I had some St. Patrick’s Day luck, the wind was able to take it and for me it was one of those things that when it left my foot I was almost upset with myself like, ‘Dang, I kind of blew an opportunity.’ Then I realized like this might have a chance, I saw the ‘keeper take two steps and I’m like this really might have a chance, and yeah, I mean he came out and it went over his head and the rest was history. Excited for my first goal with the club, and I’m more excited for the win.”
Acosta spent the last two seasons with LAFC and signed a three-year contract with Chicago as a free agent last month. He may want to stitch a four-leaf clover on his cleats to keep this good fortune going for the rest of the season.
(Photo: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports)
