VANCOUVER — Blas Perez scored his second goal of the night and second of the season on a superb bicycle kick in the 89th minute Wednesday as the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Chicago Fire 2-1.
The 35-year-old, who used to be loathed by Vancouver fans during his four seasons with rivals FC Dallas before joining the Whitecaps (5-5-2) this winter, sent B.C. Place Stadium into a frenzy when his strike beat a helpless Matt Lampson in the Chicago goal.
Kennedy Igboananike replied for the Fire (1-3-4).
With his team trailing 1-0 in the second half, Igboananike cut inside Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey and beat goalkeeper David Ousted at the near post in the 62nd minute for his team-leading fourth of the season.
Chicago, playing for the first time since April 30 and suiting up for an MLS-low eighth game of the season, was clearly the fresher of the two teams and continued to carry the play in the second half.
But Vancouver, coming off a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers over the weekend, came close in the 70th minute when substitute Kekuta Manneh's header flashed over the Chicago net.
Igboananike then danced into the Vancouver area in the 81st minute, but his shot hit the near post behind Ousted and stayed out before Perez's heroics.
The Panamanian international opened the scoring in the 36th minute on a well-worked move.
Pedro Morales sprayed a diagonal pass down the right side to Christian Bolanos, who in turn crossed to Perez in the Chicago penalty area.
The ball took a touch off of a Fire defender, bounced off Perez's shins and past Lampson.
Perez was only on the field after subbing in for Masato Kudo following an ugly incident in the 11th minute. The Japanese forward collided with an on-rushing Lampson, taking a shoulder to the face before his head slammed on the turf.
With blood dripping from his mouth, Kudo stayed down on the turf for several minutes, but was able to get to his feet before being carted off the field. The Whitecaps, who said Kudo suffered a concussion and also bit his lip and tongue, announced at halftime that the 26-year-old was alert, but was going to hospital for further evaluation.
Vancouver went with the same starting lineup that directed 26 shots at Portland in what was far and away the club's most complete performance of the season, but it was Chicago that came closest early when Fire striker Joey Calistri fired over the top from close range in the sixth minute.
Following the Kudo injury, Vancouver had a good chance in the 22nd when Nicolas Mezquida blasted a cross from Cristian Techera off Lampson's face that stayed out.
Chicago had another opportunity at the other end in the 24th minute, but Igboananike was stopped by Ousted after fighting off Tim Parker.
After Perez gave his side the lead, Calistri had the half's final chance when he found his way between Vancouver defenders Fraser Aird and Kendall Waston, but Ousted was there to save his scuffed shot.
Notes: Waston was shown a yellow card in the 82nd minute and will be suspended for Vancouver's game at Toronto FC on Saturday. ... Harvey made his 134th MLS appearance for the Whitecaps to break the previous mark held by former Vancouver midfielder Gershon Koffie.
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