The San Jose Earthquakes played their first home game in almost 2-1/2 years on Saturday. Chad Barrett and the Chicago Fire made sure they'll have to wait a bit longer for their first win, claiming the afternoon contest 1-0 with a little bit of help from the woodwork.
Barrett scored the game's only goal off a rebound in the 19th minute and Jon Busch recorded his second consecutive shutout at McAfee Coliseum. The result sees Chicago continue their unbeaten start to the season, while San Jose remain in search of their first points -- and first goal -- since rejoining MLS.
Chicago created the game's first chance after just four minutes when a Justin Mapp long ball found Tomasz Frankowski behind the San Jose defense. But Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon was alert to the danger, and got enough of a touch to defuse the threat.
San Jose quickly found their rhythm with Ronnie O'Brien finding plenty of space on the right wing to launch his trademark crosses. The spell of possession resulted in two quality chances. Kei Kamara's centering feed to Gavin Glinton was shot straight at Busch in the 14th minute. Kamara found Glinton in the box again four minutes later, but his rasping shot was touched over the bar by Busch.
But with the Earthquakes seemingly in control, a midfield turnover by Kamara saw the Fire break quickly in the 19th minute. The ball fell to Blanco, and his through ball found Tomasz Frankowski in the clear. The Pole's shot was saved by Cannon, but Barrett was quickest to the rebound and he slotted the ball underneath the Quakes 'keeper, giving the Fire a 1-0 lead.
Chicago nearly doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute when a quick combination with Barrett put Frankowski in alone on Cannon, but the Quakes 'keeper responded with a sprawling save.
The last chance of the half fell to San Jose in the 43rd minute, with the combination of Kamara and Glinton freeing up Ned Grabavoy for a shot, but his effort went just wide.
The second half began with Chicago imposing more of their will, and a long ball in the 53rd minute nearly sprung Barrett on a breakaway, but a Nick Garcia tackle broke up the play, with Barrett's subsequent penalty appeal denied by referee Kevin Stott.
Tempers began to fray in the 55th minute. A foul on Blanco resulted in some pushing and shoving between the Quakes' O'Brien and Chicago's Bakary Soumare, with Soumare getting booked for his troubles.
Quakes manager Frank Yallop brought on Shea Salinas for Ivan Guerrero in the 59th minute, and the rookie's dribbling brought a spark to San Jose's attack, winning them a free kick deep on the left wing 10 minutes later. But the subsequent delivery was just too long for Glinton, and the pressure was eased.
Chicago, whose backline had undergone a late switch prior to kickoff when Brandon Prideaux injured his right hamstring in warmups, suffered another blow when Wilman Conde hobbled off injured in the 79th minute, leaving the central pairing of Soumare and Gonzalo Segares to see out the match.
They barely hung on. Yallop brought on Ryan Johnson and John Cunliffe in a desperate attempt to find an equalizer, and the move almost paid off as Ramiro Corrales hit the crossbar with an attempted cross in stoppage time. And just a minute later, a Kamara header hit the post, and Salinas' follow-up was skied over the bar from point-blank range.
Chicago took full advantage of the let-off and hung on for valuable road victory.
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
