MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire Trump Sporting Kansas City 3-2

Published on March 26, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (March 26, 2011) - The Chicago Fire's Uruguayan contingent and Marco Pappa provided the goals as the Men in Red topped Sporting Kansas City 3-2 in the Fire's Opening Day match at TOYOTA PARK Presented by T-Mobile. Marco Pappa scored for the third consecutive Opening Day. Diego Chaves tallied his second consecutive goal in just his second MLS appearance only to see his countryman, Gaston Puerari open his MLS account six minutes later as the Fire captured their first victory of the season.

Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos trotted out just three returning players from the 2010 TOYOTA PARK opener, but the second-year head coach's new-look lineup once again proved worthy of creating chances from the opening whistle.

The Fire saw the efforts rewarded in the 34th minute when Pappa sent a pin-point pass to a charging Puerari in the middle of the park. The astute Uruguayan forward took a touch and dribbled in on goal before being hauled down by a retreating Omar Bravo in the box. The Mexican Designated Player was shown red for clipping Puerari on the breakaway and Chaves stepped to the spot. Chaves made no mistake with his penalty kick, clinically blasting it into the back of the net to give the Fire the early 1-0 advantage.

Puerari doubled the lead for the Fire just six minutes later. Pappa began the buildup, finding Michael Videira with a crisp pass in Sporting's offensive third. The Duke University product side-stepped Roger Espinoza before slotting the ball through the back of the Sporting defense to the oncoming Puerari. With no hesitation, Puerari one-timed the ball past Jimmy Nielsen for the 2-0 lead on 40 minutes.

Down a man, Sporting KC refused to go quietly, striking back six minutes in to the second half. Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson lost control of a Davy Arnaud's cross and Sporting defender Matt Besler tumbled the ball over the line to trim the lead.

Not to be outdone by the Fire's new strike force, Pappa padded the home side's lead in the 59th minute, dancing through a throng of Kansas City defenders before burying his effort past Nielsen. The crafty Guatemalan picked up the ball in Sporting's half and maneuvered through four Kansas City defenders before driving the ball into the back of the net.

Second-half substitute Teal Bunbury picked up the ball in the Fire's half and sprinted in on goal before beating Fire 'keeper Sean Johnson to the near post to cut into the Fire's two goal lead. In the end in wasn't enough as the Men in Red improved their Opening Day record at TOYOTA PARK to 4-1-1 and 9-3-2 all-time in home openers.

The Fire take the field next to challenge the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifier on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Bradley University's Shea Stadium. Tickets are available at the Renaissance Coliseum box office, all TicketMaster outlets and online at www.BradleyBraves.com . The match will stream live on www.Chicago-Fire.com .

Notes:

* Puerari tallied his first career MLS goal.

* Including the Carolina Challenge Cup matches, the Fire have now played in five consecutive matches were a player was sent off.

* Pappa, who won the 2010 MLS Goal of the Year award for his Opening Day strike in 2010, once again dazzled, scoring his third consecutive Opening Day goal.

* Logan Pause officially joined the Fire 200 club, becoming the 61st MLS player to appear in 200 regular season matches. The youngest Fire player to 200, Pause will pass Jesse Marsch for third all-time with his next appearance in a Fire uniform.

* The Fire are 21-10-8 all-time against the Kansas City side.

* Recently acquired Fire forward Dominic Oduro made his first appearance for the Fire on Saturday.

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