MLS Real Salt Lake

Nyarko header edges Fire past RSL

Published on August 2, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire midfielder Tim Ward had several scoring opportunities Saturday, but he made his contribution by setting up the game's only goal. Ward sent a looping ball into the box from 25 yards out and forward Patrick Nyarko headed it past Real Salt Lake 'keeper Nick Rimando in the 76th minute to give the Fire a 1-0 victory Saturday night at Toyota Park. Although Ward plays as a defensive midfielder when he is not on the backline, he does have offensive responsibilities, and he was in the midst of a number of offensive runs Saturday. Midway through the second half he had an open look at the goal but put a poor touch on the ball to set up the shot and lost possession.

But on the goal, he had time from 25 yards out left of goal to see Nyarko's position and sent the ball in. Nyarko beat the RSL defender to the ball and sent his header into the ground and it bounced past Rimando.

After meeting with his MLS all-stars at training Friday, Fire coach Denis Hamlett decided to give defender Wilman Conde and midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco the entire day off Saturday. All-Star Bakary Soumare was in the starting lineup, and Hamlett used defender Brandon Prideaux and C.J. Brown in the back in place of Conde and Ward, who moved up to a defensive midfield position to fill in for Blanco.

Logan Pause, who spent a month with the U.S. Gold Cup team, returned in the midfield, and Justin Mapp got his second start in the last three games as well to fill in for John Thorrington, who received a red card in the last MLS game against Seattle.

Hamlett's lineup decisions might have been influenced the upcoming Fire schedule. The Fire play host Tigres UANL of the Mexican Primera Division on Wednesday in the SuperLiga 2009 final.

There was no scoring in the first half and very few real scoring chances for either team. In the 33rd minute, Yura Movsisyan woke up the fans with a solo dribble down the left side between Fire defenders Prideaux and Brown, but his shot was right at Fire 'keeper Jon Busch.

In the 36th minute, RSL midfielder Will Johnson passed the ball back from midfield but the Fire's Marco Pappa was there and dribbled down the right side with an open approach to the goal. The RSL defense closed down as he got into the penalty area and his shot was deflected.

On the ensuing corner kick, Soumare got a touch in the middle of the box, and it bounced off a couple of RSL players before Rimando pulled the ball off the goal line.

In the 65th minute, Hamlett sent Mike Banner into the game for Mapp.

The Fire had a three-minute stretch of opportunity but couldn't convert. They had back-to-back corner kicks, one from each side, and managed to keep the ball in the attacking end for one terrific scoring attempt. From on top of the box, Pause passed the ball to Chris Rolfe, who executed the give-and-go back to Pause, but Pause's sudden shot went right into Rimando's hands.

In the 72nd minute, Real Salt Lake had their best scoring chance, as Clint Mathis centered the ball to second-half substitute Robbie Findley, whose open shot hit the crossbar and bounced up and out.

After Nyarko's goal put the Fire into the lead, in the 77th minute, Hamlett sent Calen Carr into the game for Rolfe. Midfielder Baggio Husidic entered the game in the 88th minute for Marco Pappa.

In the 89th minute, Kyle Beckerman had a sharp shot from 23 yards out that went wide right, effectively ending the game.

The Fire hit the road for a game next Sunday at MLS overall leader Houston Dynamo, who they will face without Blanco and Segares, who will be on World Cup qualifying duty. Real return home for a game on Saturday against Seattle Sounders FC.

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