The Union were served on Sunday with another reminder of the importance of spending big money on a big-scoring striker.
Chicago’s Nemanja Nikolic scored a hat trick as the Fire downed the Union, 3-2, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
Nikolic’s goals were his league-leading 22nd, 23rd and 24th of the year. He cost the Fire $1.9 million in salary and a $3.2 million transfer fee, the kind of sums the Union have never spent on an individual player.
It’s especially true at striker. The most the team has spent on the position is current backup striker Jay Simpson’s $508,333 salary this year.