Djé D'Avilla Stunner Caps Fast Start as Chicago Fire Hold Off Portland Timbers 2-1

Fourteen minutes. That is how long it took Chicago Fire FC to decide Sunday's match at Soldier Field, and how long the Portland Timbers spent chasing it afterward. Robin Lod finished a fast break in the ninth minute, Djé D'Avilla rifled a shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner five minutes later, and the Fire spent the remaining 76 minutes absorbing pressure.

Chicago held on to beat Portland 2-1 despite having the ball for just 36.9 percent of the afternoon. Finn Surman's late header made the finish nervy, but the Fire collected what the club said was their fifth straight win across all competitions, their first such run since 2000.

A Two-Punch Combination

The opener started with D'Avilla winning the ball in his own half, according to Chicago's recap, before Andrew Gutman picked out a long ball over the top of the Portland back line. Lod was already sprinting. He chested it down and slotted a left-footed finish into the bottom left corner from the middle of the box in the ninth minute. ESPN credited Gutman with the assist, his fourth of the season per the AP, and Chicago also gave D'Avilla a secondary assist.

Portland barely had time to regroup. Kevin Kelsy fired high and wide in the 12th minute, and two minutes later the Fire struck again. Robert Lewandowski had a shot blocked, and moments later Maren Haile-Selassie, facing away from goal under pressure, slipped the ball back to D'Avilla. One touch to set himself, one right-footed rocket through a crowd of bodies, and it was 2-0. Chicago said it was the first game-winning goal of D'Avilla's career.

Portland Takes the Ball, Not the Lead

From there, the Timbers settled in and hogged possession. Kelsy headed a Kristoffer Velde corner wide from very close range in the 18th minute, David da Costa fired over in the 26th, and Velde became the central figure of Portland's push. He sent one high and wide in the 41st minute, and a minute later he ran onto a da Costa through ball and hit the left post with a left-footed shot.

The AP noted neither goalkeeper made a save in the first half, which tells you everything about Chicago's efficiency and Portland's aim.

Lewandowski, Pantemis and a Long Wait

Chicago came out of the break looking for a third. Lewandowski curled what Chicago's recap called a nigh-perfect shot toward the far post in the 48th minute, and James Pantemis got a hand to it. Chris Brady made his only save of the day eight minutes later, saving an Antony effort from distance.

The cards started piling up after that, with Brandon Bye, Lod and Anton Salétros all booked by the 79th minute. Both coaches went to their benches, with Jonathan Bamba replacing Lewandowski and Puso Dithejane replacing Philip Zinckernagel for Chicago, while Portland introduced Ariel Lassiter, Joao Ortiz, Vincent Janssen and José Caicedo. Pantemis kept Portland breathing with a point-blank stop on Lod in the 81st minute.

Then the Timbers finally broke through. A set piece reached the far post, Bye headed it into the six-yard box, and Surman nodded it in from very close range in the 85th minute. ESPN credited Bye with the assist, while both clubs also credited Lassiter for the delivery. Portland said it was Surman's first goal for the club. Omir Fernández had a late shot blocked in stoppage time, but Chicago saw it out.

The Men Who Mattered

Djé D'Avilla scored the winner on his only shot, and Chicago's own count gave him a hand in the opener too. That is the kind of afternoon that earns a midfielder a little more trust.

Robin Lod put both of his shots on target, scored his fourth goal of the season and kept testing Pantemis late.

Maren Haile-Selassie began the move for the second goal and supplied the final pass. Chicago said it was his seventh assist of the season and his 27th with the club, eighth on the Fire's all-time list.

James Pantemis made two saves and kept the margin at two until Portland's late push.

Finn Surman got his first goal for the Timbers, the only one Portland would get.

The Turning Point

Velde's shot off the post in the 42nd minute. Portland had been pushing for a way back, and a goal there would have turned a comfortable Chicago lead into a coin flip at halftime. Instead, the Fire went in two goals clear, and Portland spent the second half chasing a deficit it could only halve.

Stats That Matter

• Possession: Portland held 63.1 percent and attempted 615 passes to Chicago's 361.
• Shots on goal: Chicago 4, Portland 2, even though Portland outshot the Fire 11-8.
• Corners: Portland won four, Chicago none.
• Clearances: Chicago made 26 to Portland's 13.
• Fouls: Chicago committed 15, Portland six.

What It Means

Chicago improved to 10-2-6 (wins, draws, losses) with 32 points, and the club said the result lifted the Fire to third place in the Eastern Conference. It was also Chicago's 100th regular-season win at Soldier Field, according to the club. Next up is the start of a four-game MLS road trip at Orlando City on Wednesday.

Portland fell to 7-3-9 with 24 points. The loss ended a four-match MLS unbeaten run, after a win at Seattle, a draw with Dallas and home wins over Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Portland called it the club's first MLS defeat since returning from the summer international window, in a match that was its third in eight days, and listed the Timbers 10th in the Western Conference. The AP also noted it was the debut of new Portland coach Martí Cifuentes. San Diego visits Providence Park on Wednesday.

The Closing Take

Chicago played its two biggest hits in the first 14 minutes and spent the rest of the set making sure nobody left early. It was not pretty, and Portland will feel it deserved more than one goal from all that possession. But the table does not care about style points, and the Fire have now won five straight across all competitions. Possession is nice. Finishing pays the bills.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Additional details as reported by The Associated Press, Chicago Fire FC and the Portland Timbers.