All it took was an errant cross and a mistimed clearance for the Chicago Fire's six-game league unbeaten streak to come to an end. An own goal in the third minute was enough to propel the Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 against the Fire on Wednesday night in Denver.
The goal came seemingly out of nowhere. Nicolas Hernandez took two men on along the touchline and sent a hard low cross across the face of the goal. Defender Jim Curtin and goalie Matt Pickens each converged on the ball, but with Thiago Martins bearing down on them, Curtin slid into Pickens and hit the ball, sending it up and into his own net for an own goal.
Hernandez nearly set up another goal in the 13th minute. Off a free kick from the right, Hernandez's cross found the head of Kyle Beckerman, whose hard header was sent to the corner of the net, but Pickens was able to react in time and punched the ball out while diving.
Contrary to much of their play this season, the Rapids were attempting to control possession and play through the middle instead of exclusively focusing on frenetic attacks up the wings. That patience and versatility in attack paid off in the 27th minute, again through Hernandez. Chasing down a through pass from Aitor Karanka, Hernandez got a cross off from the endline that found Martins, but the header was directed just past the post and out for a goal kick.
The Rapids did show the ability to switch things up in attack. In the 39th minute Martins deftly flicked a Cannon punt to Hernandez at the top of the box. Hernandez had time to set up his shot, but sent it well over the crossbar.
Karanka nearly put the Rapids ahead in the 45th minute, as he ripped a free kick from 25 yards that beat the wall but went just over the crossbar.
The Fire could not seem to get anything going, rarely getting the ball past midfield. They did not manage to take a shot for the entire first half until stoppage time when Nate Jaqua headed Justin Mapp's free kick over the bar from six yards.
Beckerman started off the second half strong for the Rapids, nearly extending the lead in the 48th minute. His header from a Martins cross looked to have Pickens beat, but went just wide of the post.
The Fire were starting to look competitive on offense and threatened to score via a free kick in the 51st minute. Thiago's effort forced a nice diving punch from Joe Cannon, his first save of the evening.
Another set piece for the Rapids resulted in another scoring chance in the 63rd minute. Hernandez's corner was well met by Martins, but even though he directed his header downward, it bounced straight up and over the bar.
The Fire continued to attack throughout the second half. Substitute Floyd Franks ripped a shot from inside the box, but Cannon was not troubled and easily made the diving save.
Cannon shone again in the 75th minute, making a brilliant save off of a corner kick. Jaqua's long header was headed straight for goal, but Cannon managed to react in time and punch it one-handed away from danger.
Although Chicago continued to attacking the waning minutes of the game, their long ball efforts were consistently collected by Cannon. The Fire did have one final scoring chance in stoppage time, as substitute Ryan Johnson headed the ball strongly across the box. His effort was aimed at Chris Rolfe, but Rolfe's sliding effort was just short of the ball.
Just before the final whistle, the Rapids had another good chance. Beckerman's long shot just after forced a diving save from Pickens. The ball rebounded to Cooke, but his shot sailed far above the bar.
The loss put an end to the Fire's six-game unbeaten streak, nine games in all competitions, and keeps Colorado in a tie with Chivas USA for third place in the Western Conference, just behind Houston Dynamo.
Geoffrey Urland is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
