The Chicago Fire rained shots on D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins from the onset of Saturday's match but could not open the floodgates, coming away with a scoreless draw at RFK Stadium.
The Fire were left with the possibility of clinching a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, now with 37 points and tied with the Kansas City Wizards for seventh place in the overall MLS standings. If the Colorado Rapids fail to defeat Chivas USA on Sunday, and the LA Galaxy fail to win either of their next two games, the Fire will have secured a postseason spot.
The Fire came out onto the brand new turf at RFK Stadium with a definitive purpose pressuring United from the opening whistle. But despite the numerous chances, they have now scored two or less goals in 12 consecutive league games.
The draw was the Fire's fifth in their last six games. They had drawn the four matches prior to last week's 2-1 comeback victory against New England.
Head coach Juan Carlos Osorio returned to the bench after serving a one-game suspension after being dismissed late in the Fire's 1-1 draw Sept. 29 at Chivas USA.
Chad Barrett was the linchpin of the Fire barrage, getting it started in the fourth minute. Barrett got behind Devon McTavish after an awkward aerial challenge in the penalty area and ripped a close range shot that an alert Perkins snared out of the air.
Cuauhtemco Blanco and Chris Rolfe were Barrett's primary feeders as he got behind the United defensive line two more times early in the half but could not connect with any of the penetrating balls.
The University of Dayton graduate fed Barrett for another crack at goal in the penalty area in the 19th minute. Barrett created just enough separation from United defender Bryan Namoff to get a low shot off that Perkins dove quickly to his left, keeping the ball from sneaking in the far corner.
Osorio has favored Rolfe, normally a front runner, in the midfield playing behind Barrett and Paulo Wanchope recently.
Barrett continued, ripping a half-volley from 16 yards that just faded wide of the upper right corner in the 25th minute.
Rolfe sprung Barrett again with a nifty pass in the 37th minute but his cracker was saved by an on-rushing Perkins, whose feet were out of the penalty area, but his hands were not to keep the game scoreless.
United's attack, static for the first 25 minutes, came to life with two quality opportunities that the Fire repelled. United played without silky forward Jaime Moreno, who was called into the Bolivian national team for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Colombia.
United's Guy-Roland Kpene ringed a shot off the left post for their first legitimate opportunity in the 27th minute. Luciano Emilio dribbled into traffic near the penalty spot and the ball deflected away right to an open Kpene just a few yards away.
United's most attractive sequence however, culminated with a fantastic diving save by Pickens on Christian Gomez's 20-yard blast in the 38th minute. Fred beat Logan Pause down the left touchline, slipping a ball back that Emilio dummied to a wide open Gomez.
As United's possession picked up after the intermission, chances for both teams subsided. But before the Chicago charge slowed, Barrett got another crack at goal on a gift from United's Marc Burch in the 53rd minute.
Burch's poor judgment attempting a soft chip out of his own penalty area hit Barrett in the chest freeing him for another quality close in shot that Perkins flashed out to knock away. Perkins ended the match with a United season-high nine saves.
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
