at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The Fire, meanwhile, fell to 4-7-3 and did not score a goal for the fifth time in the last seven games. The Fire now has the league's worst offense with 12 goals; the Galaxy's two goals pushed them to 13 goals scored.
The Fire had five changes in the starting lineup, perhaps the most surprising in goal. For the first time this season, Matt Pickens did not start in goal as Fire coach Denis Hamlett instead went with Jon Busch, who made his Fire debut.
Bakary Soumare was unavailable because of suspension while Brian Plotkin (foot) and Jason Monteiro (ankle) did not dress because of injury. Willian Oliveira, meanwhile, returned to the bench.
Offense was at a premium for the Fire yet again. After failing to score against Colorado in a scoreless draw on Sunday, the Fire had problems registering a shot against the Galaxy.
Early on, both sides took time getting into a rhythm. The Fire's new-look lineup kept the Galaxy from pressuring the Fire goal for the first 14 minutes until the Galaxy benefited from a Fire foul.
Kyle Martino was responsible for the opening goal. On the quarter-hour mark, Martino snared a ball outside the penalty area and turned toward the box. Martino slipped past C.J. Brown and sped past Armas, but the Fire captain clipped Martino from behind and the hosts were awarded a spot kick.
In his first game back since the Gold Cup final on June 24, Donovan stepped up to take the spot kick and slammed it down the middle as Busch had no chance to stopping it. The goal was Donovan's third goal of the season.
The Fire threatened on three corner kicks within a two-minute span shortly after the goal but a few crosses inside the box could not find any open Fire attackers.
Martino was booked in the 23rd minute when he interfered with Busch as the Fire 'keeper attempted to put a ball back in play.
Busch had a stellar save in the 29th minute. Edson Buddle raced down the left side of the Fire's penalty area fed Cobi Jones, who ripped a 12-yard shot on goal. Busch did well to parry the ball over the end line and the Galaxy were awarded a corner kick that ultimately led nowhere.
The Fire finished the first half without a shot. The Galaxy, meanwhile, had six total shots and three on goal. Hamlett replaced Robinson at halftime in favor of Bruno Menezes. The Brazilian signed on June 29 as a youth international and debuted for the Fire in Robinson's spot on the right side of the back four.
Busch kept the Galaxy from scoring in the opening seconds of the second half. Buddle sent a cross into the area from the left flank but the ball swerved toward goal. Expecting a cross, Busch twisted and punched the ball clear as it nearly crossed the goal line.
Carlos Pavon and Buddle tested Busch twice in a two-minute span midway through the second half. First, Pavon slammed a 20-yard shot on goal but Busch dived and stopped Pavon's shot on the goal line. Then, Buddle unleashed a 22-yard shot but Busch dived and parried the show away.
Thiago entered the match in the 70th minute in place of Carr. Moments after he stepped on the field, Armas had the Fire's first shot as he rose for a header off a corner kick but hit the ball right into a group of Galaxy defenders.
Diego Gutierrez was booked in the 76th minute for a slide tackle on Galaxy forward Gavin Glinton. The second-half Galaxy sub raced down the right flank on a counterattack and Gutierrez slid to knock the ball away from Glinton. Gutierrez, though, appeared to have cleared the ball away cleanly despite upending Glinton.
Brown had the Fire's second shot of the match when Gutierrez swung a free kick into the penalty area. Brown headed the ball but sent it sailing into the stands.
Busch kept the score at 1-0 when he turned away a shot from Pavon. The Honduran international fired a shot from near the top of the penalty area on goal but Busch did well to turn the shot away.
Martino struck again in the 86th minute. He dribbled the ball right at Ivan Guerrero and fell after contact was made. Martino was awarded a penalty kick and Donovan again hit the ball down the middle.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
