Chicago Fire 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 1: Late Nikolic penalty salvages draw for hosts

Nemanja Nikolic’s 84th-minute penalty salvaged a 1-1 MLS draw for Chicago Fire against winless Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Whitecaps thought they were on track for their first victory of the season thanks to Yordy Reyna in Chicago on Friday.

Vancouver came into the clash with only one point from five games, but Reyna’s 53rd-minute goal against the run of play had the Whitecaps thinking their drought could be over.

However, the Fire and Nikolic had other ideas with six minutes remaining at SeatGeek Stadium.

We’re level in Chicago as @niko_nemanja converts from the spot! #CHIvVAN https://t.co/6jCN39hLDe

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 13, 2019

After Doneil Henry handled the ball inside the penalty area following a video review, Nikolic stepped up and converted the spot-kick.

With the draw, the Fire improved to six points to move within two points of seventh-placed Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference.

The Whitecaps, meanwhile, are third from bottom in the West following two draws and four defeats.