The Chicago Fire got an early goal from Logan Pause -- then goalkeeper Matt Pickens made it hold up -- as they defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 in the latest edition of one of Major League Soccer's fiercest and most heated rivalries, this time in the 2007 season opener Saturday night at Toyota Park.
The Revolution put an end to the Fire's season in 2006 as New England defeated Chicago on penalty kicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the second successive year the Revolution had ended the season of the Men in Red -- and Chicago had had revenge on its collective minds.
With a gametime temperature of 31 degrees, the Fire did not give the 15,353 fans in attendance much time to get settled in their seats.
In just the fourth minute, Pause was credited with his first career MLS goal after deflecting a Justin Mapp cross to the near post past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis and inside his right-hand post. Mapp had cut back on the right touchline and drove in a low ball that Pause tried to reach ahead of Revolution defender James Riley, who was also involved on the play.
The Fire's defense was impenetrable and dominated play in the first half, as the Revolution were only able to generate one shot at goal. That came off the foot of forward Taylor Twellman at the 30-minute mark, and didn't force Pickens to leave his feet.
The visitors were letting fly under the pressure of the Fire defenders, without finding the frame. Steve Ralston hit a wild first-time effort in the 39th minute that screwed well wide of the left side of the goal.
The Revolution started to take desperate shots with what the Chicago defense allowed them to take. Then Andy Dorman found himself in the penalty area but couldn't connect with a quick pass to leave the Fire in the lead at the break.
New England came out with the intensity to match the Chicago's defense in the second half, but that only frustrated the Revolution on the offensive side of the ball.
Pickens left the Revolution without answers as the Fire goalkeeper was outstanding. First, Twellman saw a shot come off the crossbar, then in the 52nd minute, Pickens saved another Twellman attempt -- and then he made his finest save in the 58th minute.
Dorman had a point-blank shot on goal and tried to beat Pickens high to the left side of the goal. But Pickens dove and fully extended his body and knocked away the possible equalizer.
In the 65th minute Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez nearly doubled the Fire lead, but his shot landed in the arms of Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis.
In the dying minutes the Revolution had two terrific chances from set pieces, but Pickens came up big on both occasions. First, New England won an indirect free kick when Pickens failed to distribute the ball within the six-second limit. After a quick touch Twellman blasted the ball low through the wall, but Pickens got down to smother the shot on the line.
Then the Revs had a free kick from outside the area, and Dorman curled a terrific effort around the wall, ticketed for the inside of Pickens' left-hand post. But again the Fire 'keeper was able to get down to the ground and corral the chance. Dorman had one final chance in stoppage time, and again Pickens denied him.
The Fire did not create much of an attack after the break, and Reis ended the night with five saves, the same as Pickens. But the home side got the one touch they needed, the only one it took to claim a victory to open the season.
Tim Hilton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
