Maxim Tissot scores in 87th minute to help Montreal Impact tie Chicago Fire 2-2

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Reserve defender Maxim Tissot scored on a short header in the 87th minute as the Montreal Impact salvaged a 2-2 tie with the Chicago Fire Saturday in Major League Soccer play.

The deadlock snapped the Impact’s two-game losing streak while Chicago (11-12-7) remains in the hunt for an MLS playoff berth.

Chicago forward Mike Magee scored in the 57th minute as he slipped through two defenders and skipped a short shot past Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins to tie the game 1-1.

He struck again in the 73rd minute when Perkins tried to clear a ball. Magee aggressively challenged Perkins, picking up the loose ball and hitting the back of the net for his 18th goal of the season.

Magee just missed a hat trick when a penalty kick in the 79th minute hit the left post.

MLS scoring leader Marco Di Vaio opened the scoring for Impact (13-9-7) in the 25th minute when he slipped between two Fire defenders and launched a 12-yard shot past Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

The goal was Di Vaio’s 19th of the season and third career strike against Chicago.

Both teams have starters sidelined with suspensions.

Impact midfielder Felipe Martins — the team’s No. 2 scorer with five goals — sat out due to excessive caution accumulations. Fire defender Bakary Soumare was out due to a red card issued last Saturday at Columbus.

Consecutive losses at home to Columbus and Vancouver left the Impact still in the playoff picture but not as the MLS Eastern Conference leader that Montreal was a few weeks ago.

The Impact, who have five regular season games remaining, travel to Houston on Friday and return home to host New England on Oct. 12.