United hands Fire frustrating defeat
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
Sometimes luck isn't enough, which explains why the Chicago Fire players were shaking their heads in disbelief after Saturday night's 2-1 loss to D.C. United in front of a season-high 19,256 at Toyota Park. It's the team's third home loss this season.
The Fire (6-3-1, 19 points) caught its first break in the 27th minute, when a Fire pass deflected off United's Clyde Simms to Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Blanco passed behind the United defense to forward Chad Barrett, whose second touch sent the ball into goalkeeper Zach Wells' net for a 1-0 Fire lead.
The Fire's second break came in the 55th minute, when defender Brandon Prideaux got tangled up with United midfielder Marcelo Gallardo. The two had words, and Gallardo head-butted Prideaux. After consulting with fourth official Jasen Anno, referee Baldomero Toledo gave each player a red card, seemingly a bad trade for United, which lost its designated player.
"We kept fighting and kept attacking, even though we were on the road," said United coach Tom Soehn, an Arlington Heights native and former Fire defender.
United tied the game in the 63rd minute, finally solving Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch, who got little help from his defense on the night. Busch saved Luciano Emilio's shot but gave up a rebound, and Jaime Moreno outraced two Fire defenders to the ball.
The third Fire break came in the 88th minute, when United defender Bryan Namoff earned a red card just minutes after being cautioned. The Fire pressed forward, but on an extra-time free kick it was caught too far forward. Emilio beat Diego Gutierrez and Logan Pause on a counterattack, then beat Busch to the near post from 17 yards.
"It's a very frustrating night," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "We felt we had a point, and to lose the game at the end, that's very disappointing. It wasn't our best night tonight. We didn't play well. If it wasn't for Jon Busch -- he was credited with 8 saves -- the score probably would have been worse."