and nine games in all competitions -- dating back to Aug. 14. The Rapids -- losers of three of their last four -- needed a victory to maintain pace in the tightly bunched Western Conference.
The game's only goal came after just three minutes. Nicolas Hernandez got free down the left flank and sent in a low cross aimed for Thiago Martins. As Fire defender Jim Curtin retreated in front of Martins and goalkeeper Matt Pickens came off his line, the ball went off Curtin and over the 'keeper into the goal.
The loss ensured the Fire will not secure a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs by the weekend, while the Rapids kept pace with Chivas USA in extending the gap to five points ahead of fifth place in the West.
Fire head coach Dave Sarachan made three changes to the team that defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 the Saturday before in Ohio. Jim Curtin made his first league start since May 6 as Sarachan went to four in the back for the first time in months. Thiago also came into the team in the midfield and Andy Herron in attack, as Chris Armas was rested and Ivan Guerrero was out with an injury, and Calen Carr was suspended.
Here's Sarachan's team (4-1-3-2): Matt Pickens - C.J. Brown, Tony Sanneh, Jim Curtin (Ryan Johnson 84), Gonzalo Segares - Diego Gutierrez (Floyd Franks 65) - Nate Jaqua, Thiago, Justin Mapp (Brian Plotkin 46) - Andy Herron, Chris Rolfe. [Substitutes Not Used: Leonard Griffin, David Mahoney, Dasan Robinson, Jordan Russolillo]
"Colorado traditionally is not an easy place to come and play, and if it weren't for the own goal maybe we take a point out of here," said Sarachan.
TEAM NEWS
After a loss to Chivas USA on Aug. 12, the Fire sat in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just out of the playoff race. Until Wednesday night in Colorado, they didn't lose again, putting them in a position to be one of the first teams to claim a postseason spot and also putting them in a spot to challenge for a trophy as they've already reached the U.S. Open Cup Final.
"I didn't think we had our sharpest night. [Colorado] put a lot into the game early on and forced our hand early, and obviously scoring an own goal [three] minutes in puts you behind the eight-ball," Sarachan said. "It's a loss and we're not happy about that, but we know we're back home on the weekend."
However, the loss virtually ended any chance the Fire had of catching D.C. United for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. With just 15 points available, they are now 14 points behind Sunday's visitor to Bridgeview.
"We knew they were going to come out with a lot of energy and they certainly did. I think they made it hard for us to play in the first 30 minutes," said Diego Gutierrez. "We found some gaps and spaces and were able to get it going forward a bit. Not our best night soccer-wise but we just have to go for Sunday."
After a rocky opening half-hour, Sarachan readjusted his lines, moving Tony Sanneh forward into a deep-lying midfield role in an attempt to rediscover the form that had led to the nine-game unbeaten run.
"When you're down a goal that early, you are forced to try and equalize. You have to be patient. After the first 20-25 minutes we did well underneath their pressure," Sarachan said. "We weren't getting around the ball in the middle of the field. We needed to add another guy in the middle and that's why we moved Tony (Sanneh) there to get more numbers in our favor."
D.C. UNITED
D.C. United guaranteed home-field advantage for the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, getting an early goal to lead but then hanging on for a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday evening at Gillette Stadium. United now have 52 points from 27 matches and are a point away from guaranteeing home-field advantage if they reach the Eastern Conference Championship, and now lead FC Dallas by six points in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield.
LAST MATCH
The Revolution had come out of a six-game unbeaten streak in third place in the East with two victories in their last three games, while United had won just once since July 15.
After Ben Olsen and Josh Gros had efforts cleared off the line by Joe Franchino and Michael Parkhurst respectively, United deservedly took the lead in the 25th minute when Revolution 'keeper Matt Reis failed to hold a snap shot from Freddy Adu from the right corner of the area, and Gros slipped in to tap home the rebound.
But the Revolution pulled level 11 minutes after the break. Facundo Erpen's mis-hit clearance was headed back toward goal by Franchino, whose header found Taylor Twellman, and he then headed across goal where Clint Dempsey came in at the back post to smash home a volley for the equalizer.
Just as the Revolution weathered the first half storm, United survived one in the second, and though the teams ended up sharing the points, it was enough to ensure the Black-and-Red would secure home-field advantage for the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
United head coach Peter Nowak made four changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at RFK Stadium. Center back Bobby Boswell and midfielders Josh Gros and Christian Gomez returned from suspension, replacing Brandon Prideaux, Stephen deRoux and Rod Dyachenko respectively. Troy Perkins also returned between the posts, coming in for Nick Rimando.
Here's Nowak's team (3-4-1-2): Troy Perkins - Facundo Erpen, Bobby Boswell, Bryan Namoff - Matias Donnet (Stephen deRoux 71), Ben Olsen, Brian Carroll, Joshua Gros - Christian Gomez - Jaime Moreno (Rod Dyachenko 75), Freddy Adu (Jamil Walker 88). [Substitutes Not Used: Brandon Prideaux, Nick Rimando, Clyde Simms, David Stokes]
"I think we overall played a very good first half. We dominated possession, we created chances; there was a lot of good stuff out there. We fell asleep again for one time, and then we paid for it," Nowak said. "You know, it was pretty encouraging the way we played - mostly - for 70 minutes. We had a bad stretch for about 20 minutes, but at the end, the team fought pretty good.
TEAM NEWS
The win guaranteed home-field advantage for the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and United will host the second leg on Sun. Oct. 29. Now 14 points ahead of the Chicago Fire with 15 points still on the table, any combination of two points won by United or lost by the Fire (which would happen at least with a draw on Sunday), and United would play host to a potential Eastern Conference Championship.
"There was a lot of contact, a lot of fighting, but this is what the game is going to be. I'm glad then that we picked up the tempo and we didn't sit back and wait," Nowak said. "So, we had a couple of chances at the end of the game, but as I said, a pretty encouraging effort from all these guys today ... Of course, it would be nice to get the three points, but as I said, the way we played was pretty encouraging and pretty good."
Still, United have won just one of their last eight league games, with five draws over that time. "You know, I'm not too concerned about it," said Josh Gros. "Obviously, we would like to have won some more games, but coming to New England on a Wednesday night, it's not an easy game. To come away with a tie isn't the worst result, but obviously we're not completely happy with it."
Earlier in the year, United has held on to win games like Wednesday. But in New England, the Revolution were able to grab the equalizer - and had the Black-and-Red on their heels as they chased a winner.
"It's tough to gauge the game. It's a terrible feeling. It's a scrappy game. We go up a goal, they push (forward). And, once again, we didn't do enough to keep the lead," Ben Olsen. "But, it was one of those games where soccer didn't really matter. It was just a battle. We came to New England, like I said, a tough field, against a team that really was pretty amped up, and we got a tie. If this is the playoffs, that's a pretty good result."
Said Gros: "The first half I thought we did real well. I thought we controlled possession. I thought the team did real well the first half. I thought we did exactly what we wanted to do: get a lead, and then just hold onto that. But, you know, unfortunately, it was a tale of two halves. We played a lot better in the first half than in the second."
The fresh legs of deRoux, Dyachenko and Jamil Walker spurred United on in the latter stages of the contest and the visitors finished the stronger of the two sides. "It was a pretty significant upgrade in the last 20 minutes," Nowak said. "At the end, we fought pretty well."
Jaime Moreno made way for Dyachenko in the 75th minute. Moreno has been struggling to regain match fitness after suffering from tendonitis in the IT band in his knee. Nowak said his captain needs to find his game legs. "If he's fit and fresh, it's a different Jaime," Nowak said. "We'll make him get the fitness back."
