The Chicago Fire had to wait an even longer time than expected for a goal from Paulo Wanchope on Saturday at Crew Stadium. But once they got it, they weathered the Columbus Crew attack and the rain to hold on for a crucial 1-0 victory.
The Fire and the Crew entered the contest in very similar situations. The Crew were tied with Colorado for the eighth and final spot in the playoffs while the Fire were their closest pursuers, only two points behind. With the victory at the hands of their most direct competition, the Fire jumped over both the Crew and the Rapids (who lost on Saturday to the LA Galaxy) into eighth place and the final playoff spot.
"Obviously this is a huge three points to get on the road against a conference rival," says coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "Massive game."
With the Crew winless in their last five games, the Fire knew they would have to weather an early storm. They didn't expect weathering a storm of a different kind -- a delay of more than a half hour to severe weather, with the game in the 38th minute.
But after the break, Wanchope got in behind the Fire defense on a ball from recently signed Wilman Conde, and Chicago held on from there.
"All week we worked very hard on the tactical side of things because we knew that today could be the decisive moment for us. I think it worked well for us today," Osorio said. "We limited a very good team going forward to few chances and we waited patiently for our chance and when it came our way, Paulo put it in very well."
There has been a noticeable change in Chicago since the arrival of Osorio, who brought with him Wanchope and Conde, both of whom had played for Osorio in different leagues.
"It was a great pass from Conde. It was a tough ball to deal with because it was difficult for the defender because the ball moved a lot," said Wanchope. "And then the only thing I have to do is keep calm and score."
"I should give all the credit to the players," says Osorio, "because my responsibility is to bring in good players and good professionals, and I think [Wanchope and Conde] are very good players and professionals.
While the Fire did pull out the win the Crew did not make it easy for them. Columbus maintained a steady attack, attempted twice as many shots and took nine of the game's 10 corner kicks. Immediately before the game's lone goal Crew defender Marcos Gonzalez hit the post with a shot, and the Fire countered with the game winner.
"They are a good team, and a good team at home, with the same thing on the line that we had on the line," said Chicago captain Chris Armas. "There still are a lot of points out there to gain. This is the first real chance for them to see us and we can get us a playoff spot. We treated it like a playoff mentality and a playoff game -- I know that they did."
The Fire return home next weekend for a game against the New York Red Bulls, and have four of their final seven games at Toyota Park. But the next four games on their schedule are against teams that are currently holding spots in the playoffs, and they still have two games remaining against overall league leader D.C. United.
"I thought we earned the points tonight," Armas said. "There is starting to be a belief in this locker room that we can get into the playoffs and make a run."
Nathan Linton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
