The Chicago Fire (8-10-9, 33 pts.) marked a club-record fourth-straight tie in a 1-1 result against Chivas USA (14-6-6, 48 pts.) before an energized sell-out crowd of 27,000 Saturday night at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Chicago attacker Cuauhtémoc Blanco scored first for the Fire off a long-range freekick in the 24th minute. Chivas USA defender and captain Claudio Suarez buried a penalty kick in the 82nd minute that forced both teams to take home a single point.
The Fire struck with the game's first goal after Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura was whistled for clipping Blanco from behind, roughly 35 yards from goal. After a yellow card caution was issued to Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch for game disrepute, Blanco ran onto the ball and drilled an exquisitely-placed ball into the upper right corner past Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan for a 24th minute tally and the 1-0 lead.
Chivas nearly tied the game in the 40th minute, as forward Ante Razov took a low rip from 20 yards out that took a deflection in the box and pinged off the crossbar for a Chivas corner kick that was immediately cleared from the penalty area.
In the 80th minute, Chicago defender C.J. Brown and Chivas' Galindo fought for a 50-50 ball in the Fire's 18-yard-box. As Galindo took a shot, contact from Brown took the forward to the ground and referee Tim Weyland pointed to the spot for a penalty kick. Chivas USA captain Claudio Suarez ran toward the ball, stutter-stepped, then finished with a strong shot past Pickens to knot the game at 1-1.
Chicago kept the pressure on Chivas in the game's final moments, as a 86th minute freekick from Blanco was cleared out of the box to forward Chris Rolfe, who stuck from 25 yards to hit the top netting. In the 89th minute, a long cross from Fire defender Dasan Robinson landed to midfielder Diego Gutierrez, whose 30-yard shot forced Guzan to make a goal-saving dive
"Tonight was exciting, it was a playoff atmosphere," said Fire assistant coach Daryl Shore. "You had two very good teams playing, and I think the fans - if they leave from tonight - they should leave thinking that this was a good match to watch."
The Fire return to action Saturday, Oct. 6, in an Eastern Conference clash with the New England Revolution (14-6-7, 49 pts.) at TOYOTA PARK (7:30 p.m. CT. Comcast SportsNet). With the tie, Chicago now sit four points ahead of the Colorado Rapids (7-12-8, 29 pts.) and two points in front of the Columbus Crew (7-9-10, 31 pts.) for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Notes:
· The crowd broke into random chants of "Temo" throughout the match.
· Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio was ejected in the closing minutes of play.
· Blanco suffered a game-high eight fouls during the contest.
