In just his third career game as a professional on Tuesday morning in Orlando, former UNC men’s soccer standout Mauricio Pineda scored his first career goal in the 84th minute to lift Chicago Fire FC to a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders.

The game was the first for Chicago in the MLS is Back Tournament, which is taking place at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

A midfielder, Pineda was part of the Chicago Fire Academy before arriving at UNC–where he scored 17 goals and dished out eight assists over 79 appearances from 2016-19. In addition, he was also a two-time First Team All-ACC selection as both a junior and senior.

He signed with the Fire on a one-year contract as a Homegrown Player back in January, which is a rule that allows teams to sign players from their own development academies instead of allowing them to enter the MLS SuperDraft.

Pineda’s older brother Victor Pineda also played for Chicago from 2010-14.

 

 

Photo via Chicago Fire FC

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