Tying becomes trying for Chicago Fire

At this point you have to think the Fire would sacrifice a chicken, do a rain dance, anything to change their mojo.

The Fire gave up another lead to walk away with a 1-1 draw against New England on Saturday night at Toyota Park. That's five ties in a row for a team that goes on the road for the next three games.

"Same old story, I guess," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said with a sigh.

Again the Fire (2-0-6, 12 points) had the better of play, but the team's finishing was poor.

"Tonight we did not finish our chances and it came back and bit us," Hamlett said. " ... We were in good spots tonight to get goals and we didn't."

The Fire did get one, Wilman Conde scoring off a corner kick before getting whacked to the ground by the Revolution's Pat Phelan in the 36th minute.

The injury-riddled Revolution (2-2-3, 9 points) got the equalizer in the 49th minute, when a Jeff Larentowicz pass somehow squirted through the Fire defense to Shalrie Joseph, who had time to trap the ball and pick his spot in Jon Busch's net.

You couldn't escape the feeling: Here we go again.

"You definitely think it for a second," defender Tim Ward admitted, "but there's still 40 minutes left in the game."

The Fire pressed forward for another goal, but Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis came up with 4 second-half saves to keep the Fire as frustrated as the paparazzi when Lindsay Lohan stays home.

"Teams aren't outplaying us. It was very obvious they came here wanting a draw and they got it," midfielder John Thorrington said. "... It seems to me we're getting punished for the half chances we're giving up and not scoring the good chances we have. Those add up to ties. We've got another week to turn it around and stop this."