BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Saturday’s momentum between the Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union changed in the span of a minute.

The Union were knocking on the door to end a scoreless first half and started just as dangerously after the break. But a blocked shot, a friendly bounce off the crossbar and a red card changed the tide of the match in the Fire’s favor on Saturday. The Fire played more than 40 minutes up a man and eventually beat the Union, 1-0, in front of an announced crowd of 12,073 on a snowy day at Toyota Park.

Kennedy Igboananike scored the winner for the Fire (1-1-2), who pick up their first win of the season and now have five points from four games.

The Union (2-2-0) opened the second half with two chances at breaking the scoreless deadlock. First, a shot at an open net was blocked in the opening 30 seconds of the half, and then in the 47th minute, Ilsinho’s blast from outside the box went straight through Matt Lampson’s hands, but came off the underside of the crossbar and stayed out.

Within that same 47th minute, as the Fire advanced down the field, Union midfielder Warren Creavalle cut down Razvan Cocis from behind, earning himself a red card.

It took the Fire just four minute to capitalize on that advantage. The hosts took their first lead of the season in the 51st minute of their fourth game. Michael Harrington found Igboananike’s feet inside the Union box, and the forward turned and sent a low left-footed shot into the far corner.

The Fire dominated over the remaining half hour, coming close on a couple occasions but never scoring again, and they didn’t end up needing to as they kept their second consecutive shutout.

The opening 45 minutes saw each team come close but ended scoreless. The hosts did better in possession early and limited Union forward C.J. Sapong, but in the final 20 minutes of the half, Sapong began threatening.

The Union nearly opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Sapong got a free header in the box, but he hit the crossbar. Harrington tried to head it clear but put it back into the heart of danger, only for Ilsinho to put the follow-up effort wide.

The Union once again had Lampson beat in the 41st minute, when the Fire keeper was left frozen on a Sapong shot, but it hit the post and stayed out. Chris Pontius had his follow-up attempt blocked.

Sapong was close once again in the 44th minute, sending a shot just wide, but the half ended scoreless and shortly after the break, everything changed.

Man of the Match

Chicago defender Michael Harringon returned from a red-card suspension and was vital to the Fire’s first win of the season. He blocked a goal-bound shot in the 46th minute and then provided the assist, his first for the club, on the opening goal.

Moment of the Match

Kennedy Igboananike scored the game’s only goal in the 51st minute, receiving a pass from Harrington with his back to goal, turning and finishing into the far-bottom corner.

Match to Forget

Union midfielder Warren Creavalle was carded in each half and his 47th minute red helped turn the game in the Fire’s favor.