Fire wins final preseason match, 3-1

With goals from Dominic Oduro, Daniel Paladini and Orr Barouch, the Chicago Fire completed its final preseason performance with a 3-1 victory over Minnesota Stars FC at the Toyota Park Turf Field Friday morning.

The Fire pressured early and went up 1-0 when Patrick Nyarko darted into the box up the left before cutting back a centering pass for Dominic Oduro in stride. The Ghanaian striker one-touched his effort past Stars goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel to give the Fire a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute.

Continuing the pressure after the break, Marco Pappa beat a defender into the box on the left, dribbled along the end line before centering a pass for Paladini, who smashed his effort to the back post in the 66th minute.

The Fire added to its lead in the 77th minute when Federico Puppo danced past a defender on the left before crossing for an open Orr Barouch at the back post, allowing the Israeli youth international to chest the ball over the line for a 3-0 advantage.

The Stars scored off a free kick that was headed past substitute goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi in the 88th minute.

The Fire opens up the 2012 MLS campaign March 17 at the Montreal Impact at Olympic Stadium. Opening Day at Toyota Park is against the Philadelphia Union on March 24.