The Chicago Fire (8-10-8, 32 pts.) played to a 1-1 tie against D.C. United (15-6-5, 50 pts.) in front of a capacity crowd of 20,079 today at TOYOTA PARK. Fire forward Chad Barrett supplied the Fire's lone goal in the 18th minute of play, with attacker Cuauhtémoc Blanco notching the assist. D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno snuck a chip shot past Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the 84th minute to knot the game's final score at 1-1.
In the 18th minute of the match, Blanco received the ball at midfield as Barrett made a bending run toward the top of the 18-yard-box. Blanco sent a long ball over the top of the defense to Barrett, who settled the ball and slipped a low shot past D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins and into the left side of net.
The Fire nearly doubled their lead in the second half in the 76th minute as Barrett received the ball close to midfield, took a touch and slotting the ball through the defense to Blanco on the left side of the box. Blanco attempted to chip a shot over the head of Perkins, however the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
D.C. United leveled the match with a goal by Moreno in the 84th minute. Moreno stole the ball from Fire forward Chris Rolfe just outside the right side of the Fire's 18-yard box, took two touches, and struck a floating chip shot just over Pickens for the equalizer. The Fire continued to attack with chances on goal, yet couldn't break through for a 1-1 draw at the final whistle.
"I'm extremely disappointed. Last three games, individual errors have cost us six points," said Fire Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "I don't have any explanation. I don't think it was a matter of stamina because after they equalized we kept going and we kept pushing."
The tie tonight brings keeps the "Men in Red" in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings and also gives Chicago sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot over the Columbus Crew (31 pts.). The Fire return to action on Saturday, Sept. 29, when they take to the road to face Western Conference-leading Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. (9:30 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet).
