New England Revolution midfielder Brandon Bye (15) and Chicago Fire defender Jonathan Bornstein (3) work for control of the ball during the first half of their MLS season opener in Chicago on Saturday night. (AP photo)

CHICAGO (AP) — Robert Berić had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Fire tied the New England Revolution 2-2 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday night.

It was the Fire’s first time playing at Soldier Field in more than 15 years.

Berić opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Luka Stojanovic sent a diagonal pass ahead to Boris Sekulic who squared it to Berić. Six minutes later, Berić fed it back across to Luka Stojanovic, who punched it home to give the Fire a 2-0 lead.

The Revs cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 14th minute when Adam Buksa headed in Carles Gil’s corner, and tied it on Gustavo Bou’s finish off a Tajon Buchanan pass in the 27th minute.

The Fire’s Przemyslaw Frankowski earned a free kick from just outside the box in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, but Gastón Giménez’s attempt to go direct over the wall lacked the pace to get past goalkeeper Matt Turner. The Revs’ DeJuan Jones was shown a red card for the foul.

REVOLUTION NOTES

New England returns to action on Saturday, April 24, when the club opens its 2021 home slate at Gillette Stadium against D.C. United. The match kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on myTV38, myRITV, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and in Portuguese on WBIX 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA…

New England’s first starting lineup of the season featured two changes from December’s Eastern Conference Final, with right back Brandon Bye and midfielder Tommy McNamara stepping in for Teal Bunbury and Scott Caldwell, who began tonight’s contest on the bench….

Three offseason additions – Ema Boateng, A.J. DeLaGarza, and Wilfrid Kaptoum – were included in the match day squad for the first time in their Revolution careers…

Another offseason addition, defender Jon Bell was also included in the match day squad. Bell signed a first-team contract with the Revolution in March after playing for Revolution II in 2020. He is the first Revs II alum to make the first team’s game day roster.

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