Fire treats Yallop to birthday victory

If the Chicago Fire winds up making the MLS playoffs this fall, the club might look back at Saturday's game as its most important victory of all.

Just a week ago the Fire was riding a three-game losing streak and was on the verge of becoming the laughingstock of the league. On Saturday, the Fire (2-3-0, 6 points) won its second straight game: 3-2 against visiting Toronto FC at Toyota Park.

"It didn't feel like we ever won two games in a row last year," Fire midfielder Harry Shipp said before recalling the back-to-back victories in May 2014 of a 6-win, ninth-place season. "... It gives us momentum. The last two games we've played pretty well at home. Today was huge. We're starting to score goals. We created enough chances to score a couple of more goals."

Fire coach Frank Yallop spent the preseason talking about putting an exciting, attacking group on the field, and that team finally showed up. Last week's 1-0 victory against a mediocre Philadelphia side could be written off as a fluke. Beating a good Toronto side with Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco in the lineup is more impressive.

"The manner we played today was exciting and good," said Yallop, celebrating his 51st birthday.

The Fire scored first, getting a 14th-minute goal from left back Joevin Jones. Toronto scored the next 2 goals to take the lead.

The Fire answered with a 56th-minute goal from Shaun Maloney, the Scottish designated player's first since joining the team. Jeff Larentowicz scored the game-winner in the 68th when Shipp tapped a free kick to him, and he converted with a mighty blast from 30 yards.

"I think there's a lot of relief in it really," Maloney said of the comeback.

The players are looking more confident these days, on the field and in the postgame locker room.

"After the first three games, us, media, there was a little bit of a panic," said Shipp, who finished with 2 assists. "We lost three games. You were talking about how do you turn it around. We knew that we should have won at least one or two of those first three games. I think now you're starting to see the team come together and playing well."

Shipp even felt good enough to put a positive spin on the team's poor start.

"It was almost maybe the best thing for us, starting off the year. It kind of makes you start focusing on the little things that help you win games," the Lake Forest native said.

Suddenly, there's a belief that this might be the start of something good after all.

"We're starting to improve," Maloney said. "Look, I wouldn't get overboard about today. I think it was a really good result. Really good show from the team."

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