MLS Chicago Fire FC

Fire edged out 4-3 by FC Dallas in 2007 Saturn Cup

Published on March 17, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


NORMAN, OK - The Chicago Fire witnessed its third-straight loss of the 2007 preseason Saturday evening, falling 4-3 in a hard-fought exhibition match against Brimstone Cup-rival FC Dallas in front of an energetic crowd of 2,226 at John Crain Field on the campus of University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. Goals from Fire forward Chad Barrett in the 11th and 51st minutes sandwiched goals from Dallas defender Clarence Goodson and forward Carlos Ruiz, respectively. A header from midfielder Ramon Nunez in the 53rd minute gave Dallas a 3-2 lead before Fire defender Jim Curtin answered back with a header of his own in minute 61. The final, game-winning goal in the 82nd minute came courtesy of Dallas substitute forward Dominic Oduro and handed Chicago a 4-3 loss in the 2007 Saturn Cup.

"I saw a lot of things out there that were good, and some things that were not so good," said Head Coach Dave Sarachan. "You never want to concede four goals. We had good structure and I thought our movement was good, but we still need to tighten up some things."

The "Men in Red" took the game to Dallas from the start of the match, as forward Chad Barrett passed by two FC Dallas defenders into from the left side of the 18-yard box and slotted home a strike from eight yards out into the right side netting for the early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Mapp nearly doubled the lead eight minutes later with an open look from 15 yards out after working a give-and-go with Barrett, but the Fire midfielder's subsequent shot sailed high over the Dallas crossbar.

Dallas capitalized on a corner kick in the 29th minute, as midfielder Richard Mulrooney's service into the box bounced off the foot of forward Kenny Cooper and right to defender Clarence Goodson, whose one-time volley from point-blank range bested Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens to knot the score at 1-1. Momentum swung in favor of Dallas as forward Carlos Ruiz's cutback move in the Fire penalty box and shot from eight yards out notched the go-ahead goal for the Texan side in the 50th minute, but a mix-up in the Dallas box just a minute later saw Barrett pull Chicago back 2-2 with an equalizing header from two yards out.

A long cross from the left side found the head of unmarked Dallas midfielder Ramon Nunez for a point-blank goal to give Dallas a 3-2 advantage. In the 60th minute, Sarachan subbed in midfielder Thiago to add some offensive punch, and just a minute after entering the match the Brazilian struck a freekick from 30 yards out on the left side that found the head of defender Jim Curtin, whose redirect from 15 yards out found the upper right corner to knot the game at 3-3. The final, game-winning goal came in the 82nd minute as Dallas substitute forward Dominic Oduro broke away for a 50-yard run towards Pickens. Though Pickens came off his line to stop the streaking Oduro, he was unable to parry away the eventual game-winning goal.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 17, 2007


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