Chicago Fire Outdueled by Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4-2
August 7, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
VANCOUVER, B.C. (Aug. 7, 2011) - The Chicago Fire (2-7-13, 19 points) gave up a goal inside the first minute and strikes from Dominic Oduro and Orr Barouch weren't enough as the Fire were defeated by Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4-2 at Empire Field Sunday evening.
Just 33 seconds in the match, Jordan Harvey sent a hopeful ball towards the feet of Eric Hassli. Fire defender Yamith Cuesta misplayed the ball leaving the Vancouver forward in on goal. The hulking Frenchman collected the ball before blasting a shot past Sean Johnson and into the back of the net to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
The Fire fought to pull one back early in the first half. Sebastian Grazzini, in his second game with the Men in Red, started the play with a well-placed ball to Oduro over the top of the Whitecaps defense. The fleet Ghanaian forward beat Alain Rochat before calmly firing the ball over Jay Nolly on 23 minutes.
Before the ink could dry on Oduro's goal, Whitecaps FC went ahead 2-1. In the 24th minute Hassli collected a ball out of the back and found Gershon Koffie in the middle of the park. The Whitecaps midfielder took a touch before skipping a ball off of the turf and over Johnson.
In the 44th minute Vancouver had the opportunity to take a two-goal lead before half when Cuesta made contact with Camilo just inside of the penalty area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Hassli stepped up and the French DP drilled his spot kick towards the left post where Johnson dove to keep the 2-1 score intact going into the half.
Vancouver struck again in the opening moments of the second interval. Shea Salinas played Camilo with his back to goal. The Brazilian had the ball initially knocked away but stuck with it and spun around Josip Mikulic to get in free on goal where he slotted the ball past Johnson to the far post to give Vancouver its third goal on the evening in the 48th minute.
The Fire nearly tallied their second goal of the day when Pavel Pardo sent a pin-point pass to Orr Barouch at the top of the six-yard box. The 19-year-old forward turned and flicked the ball on goal only to be denied by Nolly who dove to parry the effort.
The Whitecaps added to their lead in the 72nd minute. Pause and Camilo tangled just outside of the Fire box and the home team was given a free kick from 22 yards out. Camilo's knuckling free kick troubled Johnson and Hassli opportunely tumbled the ball over the line to give Vancouver a 4-1 lead.
The Fire scored a second goal in the 80th minute when Patrick Nyarko found Barouch in-stride in Vancouver's offensive third. The first-year Fire forward out-muscled Harvey before slotting the ball under Nolly to the far post. The goal was the Israeli-born target man's second while donning a Fire uniform.
The Fire head to New York to take on the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. CT (CSN). The Men in Red return to TOYOTA PARK on Wednesday, August 18 to host D.C. United at 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2). Tickets are still available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), or by heading to the club's official website at Chicago-Fire.com.
Notes:
* Dominic Oduro scored his sixth goal of the season. The Ghanaian playmaker is the team's top scorer through 22 games. * Logan Pause played his 214 regular season match for the Men in Red, tying Zach Thornton for second on the club's all-time regular season appearance list. With his next league appearance, the Fire captain will pass Thornton and sit behind only Fire Original CJ Brown (296) for all-time regular appearances with the Chicago Fire. * Fire defender Cory Gibbs missed Saturday's match with a left groin injury. * Gonzalo Segares started his 22nd consecutive MLS match Sunday afternoon. The veteran defender is the only player to have started in every MLS game this season. * When the opposition have struck first, the Fire have fought back to score at least one goal, with the Portland Timbers match on July 16 serving as the exception. * The Fire have allowed a total of 10 goals in the three matches played in the Pacific Northwest. * Patrick Nyarko tallied his fifth assist of the season.
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