HARRISON, N.J. — Aleksandar Katai and Nemanja Nikolic scored and Richard Sanchez had a career-high nine saves to help the Chicago Fire beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 on Saturday.
Katai gave Chicago (2-3-1) a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute. Brandon Vincent’s corner kick was headed away by New York’s Aaron Long, but Katai drilled a rising left-footed volley from the top corner of the box into the net.
Sanchez — a 24-year old with just two career starts coming into the season and who allowed eight total goal in the first three matches of the season — had several acrobatic stops. He kicked away a shot Daniel Royer and then made a diving save of Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s put-back attempt to preserve the lead in the 35th.
Nikolic converted from the spot in the 69th minute after goalkeeper Luis Robles took down Katai inside the area.
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored in the 81st — his second goal in as many games and fifth this season — for New York (3-3-0).
The Red Bulls had their 11-game unbeaten streak snapped.
