Pineda’s goal lifts Fire over Sounders in MLS tournament

Rookie Mauricio Pineda scored in the 84th minute to give the Chicago Fire a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday in the MLS is Back Tournament in Lake Buena Vista.

Wide open at the back post, Pineda caught Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei off guard after Seattle’s Handwalla Bwana scored in the 77th minute to knot the score at 1-all.

Robert Beric’s goal put the Fire up after a scoreless first half. It was his second goal for the Fire this season – his first came in a seasonopening loss to the defending champion Sounders.

The match Tuesday was the tournament opener for the Fire, who were shifted to a new group after FC Dallas and Nashville SC had to withdraw because of positive COVID-19 tests.

“I think everyone was looking forward to this game, we were all really anxious to start playing games again,” Pineda said. “Everyone worked really hard today, we all really wanted a good result to start the tournament off and just for the league points.”

Inter Miami faced the Philadelphia Union in Tuesday’s late game.

England: Olivier Giroud put Chelsea closer to Champions League qualification by sealing a 1-0 victory over relegated Norwich in the English Premier League on Tuesday.Giroud headed in Christian Pulisic’s cross from the left wing in first-half stoppage time.

Italy: Mario Pasalic netted his first hat trick as Atalanta delivered another attacking masterclass to beat Brescia 6-2 to move second in Serie A. Atalanta moved two points above Inter Milan and Lazio, which both have a game in hand.

Portugal: Benfica beat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-0 to keep Porto from clinching the Portuguese league title. Chiquinho scored in the 37th minute and Haris Seferovic added the second in the 87th to move Benfica within five points of Porto ahead of the rival’s home match against third-place Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday. A draw against Sporting will be enough to give Porto its second Portuguese title in three seasons