New York City FC 2 (David Villa 47, Frederic Brilliant 50)
Chicago Fire 1 (David Accam 54)
There is something about good fortune that unsettles the 2017 Chicago Fire. Opponents at full strength, teams that come out with solid gameplans, bright-eyed with intent - those teams find their underlying tactical premises folded, spindled and mutilated by the Men in Red as often as not. But suffer an early red card - or some other twist of football fate - and the previously ruthless eviscerators on the Fire become Victorian gentlemen, certain that winning without honor simply isn’t spiffing, don’t you know, and if it’s not spiffing, is it worth pursuing?