Fire's Haile-Selassie, Lewandowski score to spoil 2-goal debut of Sounders' Joveljić in 2-2 draw

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Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Chris Brady clears the ball against Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Chicago Fire FC midfielder Dje D'avilla, left, looks on as Seattle Sounders forward Dejan Joveljic celebrates a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) — Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Chris Brady clears the ball against Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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7:05 PM on Saturday, August 29

The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Dejan Joveljić scored a goal in each half of his debut with Seattle, but Maren Haile-Selassie and Robert Lewandowski answered for Chicago as the Sounders and Fire played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Seattle grabbed the lead when Joveljić scored in the 12th minute, using assists from rookie Sebastian Gomez — his first — and defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi — his second. It was the ninth goal of the season for Joveljić, who arrived this week after a $6 million cash-for-player trade with Sporting Kansas City.

Chicago pulled even in the 38th minute on Haile-Selassie's fifth goal, one off his career high. Lewandowski notched his fourth assist in his first seven league matches, and defender Andrew Gutman collected his fifth of the campaign.

Joveljić scored again to give the Sounders a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second half. Albert Rusnák picked up his eighth assist and 19-year-old Snyder Brunell his second.

Lewandowski used his head to score his fifth goal for the equalizer in the 82nd minute. Haile-Selassie earned his eighth assist to match his career high set in each of the last two seasons. Rookie Puso Dithejane snagged his first assist.

Chris Brady stopped one shot for Chicago (11-6-4). Brady topped 10,000 career minutes in the 34th on Saturday. He is Chicago’s second homegrown player to reach the mark.

Andrew Thomas totaled nine saves for Seattle (7-9-5), which is 6-0-3 all time at home against the Fire.

Joveljić is the fifth player to score in his debut with the Sounders and the second to score twice, joining Fredy Montero (2009), Nelson Valdez (2015), Pedro de la Vega (2024) and Brunell (2025). Montero scored two goals in Seattle's 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in the first match of the Sounders' debut season.

Chicago went 3-0-2 in August and improved to 4-3-4 on the road in its climb to third place in the Eastern Conference.

Up next

Chicago: At Toronto FC on Saturday.

Seattle: Hosts New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

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See AP’s full soccer coverage here