For the second time in seven days, the Chicago Fire suffered late-game disappointment.
Last Sunday, in the first game at Toyota Park, the Fire gave up two goals at home in stoppage time en route to a 3-3 tie against the New England Revolution.
This time it cost more, an apparent tie turning into a loss in the 89th minute as the Kansas City Wizards took a 3-2 victory Saturday evening at Arrowhead Stadium.
"Both teams in the second half made an effort to limit chances in the game," said Fire coach Dave Sarachan. "They did it. We did it. Yet they get the goal in the end."
The dagger that turned the tie into a loss was a goal by Wizards defender Jose Burciaga Jr. His shot from a sharp angle, near the corner, glanced off goalkeeper Zach Thornton at the near post and into the net.
"We knew that if you're going to give up more than two goals in a game, there's a chance you're going to lose that game," Sarachan said.
The Wizards and Fire had both scored two goals in the first half. The result was a serenity filled second half. Sarachan thought the time of possession, the energy level, and the enthusiasm on the field for the Fire was good. But there was one thing the Fire didn't do in the match.
"There were a lot of moments where we didn't close the game on them," he said.
The dilemma of the Fire losing the grip on a few points or in this case, a single point, is becoming problematic.
"We had two leads in the game," Sarachan said. "It's disappointing that we didn't hold them."
Fire forward Andy Herron scored just four minutes into the match, his first goal of the season. But the memory of that goal faded in comparison to the end result.
"It's hard to talk about that first goal when this (the loss) happened," Herron said. "This is my first game since I started with the Fire, and I can't see a win. It doesn't taste good when you score, and you lose.
There were many bright spots despite the loss. One promising aspect of the Fire offense is the chemistry between strike pair Nate Jaqua and Herron, who started together for the second consecutive game.
"Nate is a good player and we always talk a lot during the games," Herron said. "I know his moves."
Sarachan has also noticed the compatibility of his two forwards. Time will only solidify this one-two scoring punch. Appropriately, Herron and Jaqua had the goals for the Fire.
"They're beginning to play with an understanding of each other," Sarachan said.
Thomas Foote is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
