WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Chicago Fire held onto a one-goal aggregate lead with a 2-2 tie against D.C. United in front of 19,438 fans to advance through game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series tonight at RFK Stadium in the nation's capital. The Fire led after forwards Chad Barrett and Chris Rolfe tallied to give Chicago a 2-0 lead (3-0 aggregate) advantage into halftime. United came back with strikes from midfielders Clyde Simms and Christian Gomez to give the game a dramatic 2-2 finish.
Chicago advanced through the two-game, aggregate goal series 3-2 for a ticket to the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship. The "Men in Red" will face either the New York Red Bulls or the New England Revolution on Thursday, Nov. 8 (6:30 CT, ESPN2).
The Fire opened scoring in the 31st minute as forward Calen Carr sent a short chip over the United defense to a streaking Barrett, who took a touch before finishing with his left foot from eight yards out past D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins for his career-first MLS Cup Playoffs tally.
The Fire added to their lead just two minutes later when midfielder Cuauhtémoc Blanco sent a floating header into the D.C. 18-yard-box. Chicago's Rolfe poached his second-straight playoff goal after one-timing the ball off the hop with his right foot past Perkins.
United nearly scored in the 38th minute, as D.C.'s Simms took a close-range shot that looked destined to go in, but a goal line clearance by Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares kept the home side scoreless before the halftime whistle.
Simms did get one back for the Black and Red in the second half, though, as he took a pass from forward Rod Dyachenko and struck a low shot from 40 yards out that snuck just inside the left post to bring the game to 2-1 in the 69th minute.
United's Gomez gave the Black and Red hope for a comeback in the 74th minute, as he received a long pass out of the back from Dyachenko and took a crack on goal from just inside the Chicago penalty box and that hit the hands of diving goalkeeper Matt Pickens and rolled into the back of the net to knot the game at 2-2.
D.C. continued to put pressure the on the Fire net late into the game and into stoppage time, and in the game's final minutes a long ball out of the back from defender Greg Vanney freed Gomez for an apparent series-tying goal, but was called back as Gomez was ruled for a handball on the play.
"We've really developed a strong team spirit through the team," said Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "We're playing to our strengths, and we're playing a lot more organized now."
With the crucial draw tonight, the Fire retain an unbeaten 5-0-2 all-time playoff record against D.C., outscoring United 13-2 across all seven contests. Chicago also extend their unbeaten run to 10-straight with a 4-0-6 mark across league and postseason play.
Fire Lineup: GK-Matt Pickens, D-Dasan Robinson, D-C.J. Brown, D-Gonzalo Segares, M-Chris Rolfe, M-Chris Armas (Captain), M-Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Floyd Franks 88), M-Logan Pause, M-Wilman Conde, F-Chad Barrett (Bakary Soumare 58), F-Calen Carr (Diego Gutierrez 78).
Subs Not Used: Jon Busch, Bruno Menezes, John Thorrington, Paulo Wanchope.
United Lineup: GK-Troy Perkins, D-Bryan Namoff, D-Bobby Boswell (Devon McTavish 59), D-Greg Vanney, D-Marc Burch (Rod Dyachenko 41), M-Ben Olsen, M-Christian Gomez, M-Clyde Simms, M-Fred, F-Luciano Emilio (Nicholas Addlery 65), F-Jaime Moreno (Captain).
Subs Not Used: Jay Nolly, Brian Carroll, Domenic Mediate, Guy-Roland Kpene.
