Bounces don't go Fire's way

The Chicago Fire is going to chalk up Saturday night's 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC to plain bad luck.

“I think we were a bit unlucky tonight, which is always tough to be unlucky at home, especially against a team you were better than,” defender Dan Gargan said.

The Fire players and coaches were not in a good mood, and that was apparent when players from both teams appeared to share angry words and had to be separated after the final whistle. Fines and possibly suspensions could be coming to both teams, with Marco Pappa and Jalil Anibaba at the center of the dispute for the Fire.

“I went after the ball and after that emotions were running high,” Anibaba said. “It wasn't anything malicious. It was just heat-of-the-moment things.”

Part of the frustration was aimed at referee Michael Kennedy.

“At times the referees have to make the right calls at times and don't let it get out of hand,” said Fire coach Frank Klopas, who after the players had been separated had to be held back by the fourth referee while waving an angry finger at Kennedy after the game.

Part of the frustration was having a goal disallowed and giving up an own goal.

The own goal came first, when a ball from Seattle's David Estrada in the 39th minute deflected off new Fire defender Arne Friedrich and toward the net, catching goalkeeper Sean Johnson going the other way.

The Fire appeared to tie the game in the 63rd minute on Marco Pappa's 20-yard blast. But Fire forward Dominic Oduro was standing in front of Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning and obstructed him as the ball flew by. It was one of the few calls Kennedy got right.

“Sometimes the game is cruel where you deserve to get a goal, one or two, and unfortunately you get a deflection the other way and give up a goal,” said Klopas, who said he thought the Fire earned a penalty kick in stoppage time when Rafael Robayo appeared to be fouled in the penalty area. Kennedy thought otherwise.

Seattle made it 2-0 in the 67th minute on Eddie Johnson's goal after Sean Johnson gave up a rebound on a shot that knuckled in the steady wind coming from behind his net.

“I think today it's just luck wasn't on our side,” Anibaba said. “We put together some very good passes and some very good buildups toward the goal. I think we looked good. It's just a matter of getting the bounce when you need it, and I don't think we got it tonight. I don't think we have anything to be down on ourselves about tonight's performance to be honest.”

Follow Orrin on Twitter @orrinsoccer.