MLS Major League Soccer

Dallas Holds off Fire, 2-0

Published on September 20, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


SOUTHLAKE, Texas - First-half goals from Toni Nhleko and Eddie Johnson gave Colin Clarke a victory in his first match in charge of Dallas Burn, a 2-0 triumph against Chicago Fire on Saturday night at Dragon Stadium.

Nhleko put the Burn (5-16-4, 19 pts.) ahead after just seven minutes when he potted the rebound of a fierce Johnson drive saved by Zach Thornton, then Johnson scored one of his own two minutes deep into first-half stoppage time as the Fire (12-6-7, 43 pts.) were shutout for the first time since July 5.

For Dallas, the victory snapped a four-match losing streak and was just their second victory in their last 10 league matches dating back to July 19. Chicago lost for the second time in four contests after having a seven-match unbeaten run ended.

With Clarke having taken over for the dismissed Mike Jeffries as the Burn coach earlier in the week, the home side came out with all guns blazing. He made no dramatic changes to the 4-2-3-1 system the Burn have used in their past few matches, as the pace of Nhleko as the lone out-and-out striker, with Ali Curtis and Johnson on the flanks, put the Chicago defense under pressure from the outset.

In the seventh minute, Burn pressure won a pass out of the Fire penalty area, and Chad Deering found Johnson on the right side of the box. His shot was well stopped by a diving Thornton, but Nhleko raced in all alone to pump the rebound into the empty goal for his first career MLS goal.

Barely three minutes later, Johnson just slid a low shot wide of Thornton's right-hand post, then Brad Davis fired just over with a clear opportunity from the top of the restraining arc.

Fire coach Dave Sarachan was forced to rejuggle his team when a hard tackle forced off Justin Mapp after just 16 minutes, Andy Williams coming into the side. But after he settled into the match his addition saw the visitors put together some good movements, Damani Ralph firing just wide in the 26th minute, then Logan Pause having two clear chances in close order in the best action of the half just after the half hour.

But as stoppage time wound down, the Burn struck again. Curtis collected a pass on the left flank, turned defender Evan Whitfield inside-out, and drove in a low cross where Johnson sat unmarked at the top of the six, the youngster side-footing home from close range for his third goal of the season.

The Burn could have added to their lead in the second half, first in the 57th minute when Jim Curtin blocked a Davis shot in the goalmouth with Thornton out to sea after unable to claim a loose ball, then Thornton smothered a Gavin Glinton effort after the Burn's player's pace outstripped the Fire back line.

Chicago came close in the final minutes, a Kelly Gray freekick from 25 yards out cracking off the crossbar on 86 minutes, then two minutes later DaMarcus Beasley forcing a good save from Jeff Cassar on a close-range shot from a tight angle, Damani Ralph putting the rebound into the side netting, but it was a rare tense time for the Burn 'keeper.

With the loss, Chicago saw their lead in the Eastern Conference whittled to six points ahead of MetroStars, and also fell out of a tie for the top of the MLS overall table. The Fire's next MLS match in October 1 away to Colorado Rapids; in the meantime, they will play Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 23 in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Cardinal Stadium. Dallas travels to San Jose to face the Earthquakes next Saturday, Sept. 27 (7 p.m. PT).

MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Eddie Johnson (Dallas Burn)

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 20, 2003


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