The pregame explosions of pyrotechnics on the field were a fitting preview to the aggressive attack the Chicago Fire displayed in defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-0 Sunday at the grand opening of Toyota Park.
Chris Armas and Thiago provided the goals for the Fire, and only the efforts of Red Bulls goalkeeper Tony Meola prevented the "Men in Red" from piling on in front of 20,133 energetic Fire fans.
Early on, the Fire dominated possession and their series of slashing runs and passes gave the home side several good opportunities, one of which saw Armas settle an Andy Herron cross and shoot in the ninth minute, only to have it deflected.
The Fire captain wouldn't be denied three minutes later. Gathering a poor clearance, Armas fired a shot that Meola got a finger on. The attempt wasn't enough to stop the ball, which trickled over the goal line to give the Fire captain his first tally of the year.
The strike force of Herron and Nate Jaqua kept up the attack. In the 28th minute, the Fire won a dangerous free kick, but Jaqua headed the service by Justin Mapp over the bar. Four minutes later, Thiago forced a kick save from Meola after a scramble in the box.
Just before the whistle blew for halftime, the Fire had a penalty appeal denied. It appeared Red Bulls defender Jeff Parke pulled Jaqua down in the box, but the penalty wasn't given.
The Fire continued their relentless attacking in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Thiago found space on the far side of the box and sent in a cross that Meola tipped. Jaqua collected the ball and shot, but Meola recovered to keep the visitors in the match.
Just seven minutes later, the pressure mounted again. Calen Carr laid the ball off for Thiago at top of the box, and the Brazilian then weaved his way across the top of the area, turned and struck a low shot inside Meola's near post to double the home side's lead.
The Fire didn't let up in the final 20 minutes of the match, but a third goal was out of their reach. Though the Fire's rearguard was hardly tested, goalkeeper Zach Thornton did come up with a fine save at the death to keep his clean sheet.
With the victory, their third of the season, the Fire leapfrog the Red Bulls into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points on the season, though New York has at least one game in hand over every other East club.
Jack Daniel Chavez is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
