Chicago Fire coach Denis Hamlett couldn't have scripted it any better. From the opening kickoff, his game plan was to pressure a New York Red Bulls team in the midst of a five-game unbeaten run. His tactics paid off perfectly as Chad Barrett's two tallies and Cuauhtemoc Blanco's goal and three assists paced the visitors in a dominating 5-1 victory.
"It was a good day for us," said Hamlett. "Our guys came in with the right mentality. It's always good when you can go on the road and score five goals. We wanted to play our game. The best way to do that is right from the start. We tried to set the tone early and impose our will on them. It doesn't matter if you are home or away, you want to get them on their heels. Getting that first goal is always key."
The Fire got the opener just eight minutes into the match. Moments after missing the target off a great feed from Justin Mapp, Barrett ran under a long pass by Blanco, fought off Red Bulls defender Hunter Freeman and put his team up 1-0 with a clinical finish over diving New York 'keeper Jon Conway. The play seemed to unsettle a lethargic home side further and set the tone the rest of the way.
The Red Bulls did manage sustained but unsuccessful pressure from the midway point of the first half, and Chicago came out after the intermission and again struck early on. This time, Blanco fed Chris Rolfe at the far post after being sprung by Bakary Soumare along the right flank.
"We knew if we got early goals in each half it would open them up," said Mapp. "We were able to pretty much put the game away early in the second half."
The three points were all but assured when Andrew Boyens took down Mapp in the box a few minutes later. Blanco stepped up and drilled his fourth of the season to Conway's left. Two more within seven minutes from Barrett and Gonzalo Segares padded an already lop-sided scoreline, making it 5-0 with a third of the game still to play.
"We took all of our chances well," said Mapp. "We played well as a group offensively and defensively. We really limited them and that helped get our offense going."
Jozy Altidore spoiled Jon Busch's clean-sheet bid when he pulled one back for New York in the 74th minute. Still, Hamlett was as proud of his team's defensive effort, particularly the play of Colombian Wilman Conde, as he was with the offensive explosion.
Before the season, Conde publicly requested a trade to the Red Bulls, a request that Chicago denied. Following that episode, he spent the beginning of the season out of the lineup. Sunday marked just his second start this year.
"Wilman played an unbelievable game," said Hamlett. "He was able to step in and win a lot of balls, and he played solid balls out of the back, too, bypassing the midfield to our forwards.
"It's important from the standpoint that he wants to show our coaches that he wants to be on the field," continued Hamlett. "As far as all the other, outside issues that took place, I think we've moved on from that. He's committed to this team, wants to be here, and wants to be on the field. Tonight he made a big statement."
The win was especially sweet for Soumare, a Mali native who attended high school at Manhattan's La Salle Academy.
"I don't get to come home very often. The only time during the season is when we play here," said Soumare. "It's really nice to play in front of friends and family. I was fortunate to get a lot of tickets."
Almost as fortunate as his team was on Sunday in getting a memorable away win.
Doug McIntyre is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
