BRIDGEVIEW, IL (Aug. 4, 2007) - The Chicago Fire (5-8-5, 20 pts.) tied their Eastern Conference rival Columbus Crew (6-5-8, 26 pts.) 0-0 tonight at TOYOTA PARK in front of a capacity crowd of 20,358 fans. Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens recorded the shutout, his sixth of the season and was awarded the Honda MVP Man of the Match honors for his efforts. Tonight's game marked the 400th professional career match for Fire captain Chris Armas, as well as the Major League Soccer debut of Fire forward Paulo Wanchope.
In the 26th minute, Fire forward Calen Carr attempted to open scoring as he received the ball just outside the 18-yard box slightly left of center and beat two Crew defenders with a touch to the middle. Carr ripped a hard shot on goal, but a save from Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer kept the Fire scoreless.
A freekick opportunity for the Crew from 25-yards-out, left of the box, threatened to break the stalemate in the 28th minute. The curving shot deflected off of the Fire's three man wall and Crew defender Stefani Miglioranzi got a shot off the rebound. Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens smothered the shot to keep the clean sheet entering halftime.
Both teams came out of halftime attacking and Pickens made the save of the game in the 64th minute of play to keep the score level at zero. Pickens dove to cut off a cross from the deep right corner, redirecting the ball into open space. Crew forward Alejandro Moreno fired a follow-up-shot that ensued after the defense failed to clear the ball, but Pickens was there to stop the play.
Pickens held strong throughout the remainder of the half, sacrificing his body (and face) in the 87th minute. Columbus forward Andy Herron collected a ball 15 yards off the right post and struck a hard ball that connected with Pickens' face for a save. Despite an attacking effort from both the Fire's 11 shots and the Crew's eight shots, neither team was able to unknot the scoreless draw.
"Defensively I think that two games in a row we have limited the opposition to very few chances. Today Matt [Pickens] made a great save towards the end, other than that I don't think that he was stretched. So defensively I think we did well. Offensively I have to be critical. We need to be more effective with our chances. The effort was there and I think we competed very well with them."
Tonight's draw brings the Fire to 5-8-5 (20 pts.) in league play, placing the "Men in Red" in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of Toronto FC and 13 points behind conference-leading New England Revolution. The Fire return to action on Aug. 18 against Real Salt Lake (2-9-6 13 pts.) at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah (8:00 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet).
Note: Chris Armas, an MLS and "Fire Original," has appeared in 262 MLS regular season games, 37 MLS playoff matches, 20 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games, 11 CONCACAF Champions Cup matches, four international friendlies, and 66 caps with the U.S. Men's National Team for a total of 400 professional games played.
Fire Lineup: GK-Matt Pickens, D-C.J. Brown, D-Gonzalo Segares, D-Dasan Robinson, M-Logan Pause, M-Chris Armas (Captain), M-Ivan Guerrero, M-Diego Gutierrez (Bakary Soumare 84), F-Cuauhtémoc Blanco, F-Calen Carr (Chris Rolfe 71), F-Chad Barrett (Paulo Wanchope 58).
Crew Lineup: GK-Will Hesmer, D-Frankie Hejduk (Captain), D-Marcos Gonzalez, D-Chad Marshall, D-Stefani Miglioranzi, M-Danny O'Rourke, M-Guillermo Barros Schelotto, M-Ned Grabavoy (Duncan Oughton 88), M- Danny Szetela, F-Alejandro Moreno, F-Eddie Gaven (Andy Herron 68).
Scoring Summary
None
Misconduct Summary
CHI - Diego Gutierrez (Caution, Reckless Foul) 13
CHI - C.J. Brown (Caution, Tackle From Behind) 27
CLB - Danny Szetela (Caution, Professional Foul) 30
CLB - Stefani Miglioranzi (Caution, Persistent Infringement) 44
CLB - Marcos Gonzalez (Caution, Dissent) 60
CHI - Bakary Soumare (Caution, Tackle from Behind) 86
