Needing win, Fire get draw

The Fire's frustration continues.

Faced with what coach Denis Hamlett described as a must-win situation, the Fire had to settle for a 2-2 draw Saturday night at Toyota Park against Toronto FC.

Saturday's tie combined with Columbus' 2-0 victory over Los Angeles means the Fire's shot at the Supporters' Shield and home-field advantage for the playoffs is virtually gone.

"We're disappointed with the result today," Hamlett said. "Basically, I told the group that tonight, defensively, we were no good. We gave them 2 goals tonight, 2 easy goals, and if we want to win championships, the defense has got to get better, plain and simple."

Toronto (9-10-8, 35 points) scored first in the sixth minute when Dwayne DeRosario took advantage of miscommunication in the back between C.J. Brown and Wilman Conde. The Fire (10-6-11, 41 points) tied it in the 14th when Toronto defender Nick Garcia, under pressure from the Fire's Patrick Nyarko, chested the ball into his own goal.

Toronto took another lead just seconds into the second half on a goal by former Fire forward Chad Barrett, but the Fire tied it in the 78th on Brian McBride's first goal since May 16.