and it sailed into the goal under the crossbar for the equalizer, Moreno's sixth goal of the season.
• Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio made three changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas three nights earlier. Gonzalo Segares was suspended and Bruno Menezes out to an injury, so Wilman Conde came back into the team from suspension and Diego Gutierrez also returned. Calen Carr was also again named in the starting XI as Paulo Wanchope was out of the team.
• Here's Osorio's team (4-3-1-2): Matt Pickens - C.J. Brown, Wilman Conde, Diego Gutierrez, Dasan Robinson - Logan Pause, Chris Armas, Calen Carr (Bakary Soumare 72) - Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Chris Rolfe, Chad Barrett (Floyd Franks 81). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Banner, Jon Busch, Brian Plotkin, John Thorrington, Daniel Woolard
• "I am extremely disappointed. By my count, this is the third game in a row where individual errors cost us six points," Osorio said. "There is lots of pressure on the guys. Two months ago, they were playing for nothing and now they're playing for something important. I'm very disappointed because we created enough chances to win this game."
TEAM NEWS
• While the Fire haven't lost in four games, they haven't won in three. Against New York, they did come back to grab a 2-2 draw, but after a red card left them a man down for the final 20 minutes. They've allowed late goals in the last two games - in stoppage time in the 1-1 draw at FC Dallas, then six minutes from the end against D.C. United.
• "It's disappointing. It's the second game in a row that we should have had three points and we come out the one. It's a little disappointing on [Matt] Pickens' part. He's always huge for us every game. So he's a little disappointed in himself," said C.J. Brown. "We just have to keep our heads up and keep plowing away. I think soccer-wise we're dominating. We just have to finish the game off."
• Pickens made five saves on the day, but Moreno's shot from a very tight angle and outside the area got by him, high inside the near post. Earlier, Wilman Conde had also saved the day, heading a Luciano Emilio chance off the line.
• "They (D.C.) crossed the ball in and I got to it," Pickens said. "I thought it was going wide but then I lost it. It's just one of those things that happen. I feel awful. We played good enough to win (Sunday)."
• The Fire's single point moved them a point ahead of the Columbus Crew for eighth place in the overall standings and the final playoff spot. The Fire have 32 points, while the Columbus Crew have 31 and the Colorado Rapids sit in 10th place with 29. Of the three, the Fire could have the most difficult schedule, with games against D.C. United, New England and Chivas USA - the top three teams in the league.
• "We have to take it one game a time and now we have to prepare for Chivas (next Saturday)," Osorio said. "I can't deny that I am concerned about what has happened during our last three games."
• Cuauhtémoc Blanco continued to be the spark in the Fire attack, setting up the lone goal with his sixth assist.
• "I think that he's still very creative, you remember our goal was a bold play from him, so I think he's still making good chances for us and I know what comes with Cuauhtémoc defensively," Osorio said. "Sometimes we could probably hope for more, but offensively I think he's doing the job."
• One of the storylines for the match has been the resumption of Mexico's oldest rivalry - the clasíco between Club América and Chivas de Guadalajara - being played out as the Fire take on Chivas USA. Blanco spent nearly the entirety of his career in the Mexican top flight - from 1992-2007 - with the Mexico City giant.
