Bafana Bafana centre back Mbekezeli Mbokazi was on the losing side on Wednesday night as Chicago Fire suffered a surprise home loss to Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer, while striker Lyle Foster got taken off at halftime of Houston’s draw at San Diego.
Foster, who last month went on loan to Houston from English club Burnley, scored his first goal for Houston in his full debut last Saturday away at Minnesota but lasted only 45 minutes in the midweek clash at San Diego, which ended in a 3–3 draw, with Houston coming on from 2–0 down to be 3–2 ahead at the break, only to give up a late equaliser to the home side.
Chicago went ahead at Soldier Field against Philadelphia on the stroke of halftime but Mbokazi’s centre back partner Jack Elliot was then sent off for a second yellow card offence, and Union exploited the one-man advantage in the second half to come back and win 3–1.
Both Chicago and Houston remain firmly on course to compete in the end-of-season playoffs, but Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s Minnesota are now 10 points off the pace after their 2–2 draw at Colorado Rapids.
Hlongwane started the game for Minnesota, who have not won any of their past eight league outings and have only five games left to salvage their chances.
They are home to St Louis City on Saturday, while Houston also return home to play a Texas derby against Dallas. Chicago embark on a two-game road trip that begins against the New England Revolution on Saturday.