Nyarko scores to earn a point for Chicago Fire

Ghanaian winger Patrick Nyarko scored to rally Chicago Fire to a 1-1 road draw against Houston Dynamo in the American Major League on Friday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Nyarko, 29, entered the game as a half-time substitute and he netted the equalizer in first MLS match of 2015.

Chicago had a pair of looks in the 65th minute. Lovel Palmer sped past a defender and sent a cross to the near post, landing on the foot of Mike Magee. Magee flicked a shot toward goal, but watched it deflect out of bounds for a corner kick.

Nyarko had the next chance off of the ensuing corner kick, but his header hit the top of the crossbar before bouncing away for a goal kick.

Nyarko pulled his team back with a 72nd-minute equalizer. Shipp sent a pass to Magee in space near the top of the box. Magee was able to get a touch on the ball before colliding with a Houston defender, giving Greg Cochrane room to operate on the left side.

Cochrane slid a teasing ball in front of goal and Nyarko met it with a sliding challenge, but Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis was there to make the initial stop. Nyarko pounced on the loose ball, slotting his shot into the upper corner for his first goal of the season.

Nyarko marked his return from injury when he came off the bench to play for Fire in their US Open Cup victory in midweek.

While he was using the game to underline his importance for Fire, Black Stars attacker David Accam missed out of the squad for the game.