The Chicago Fire were scheduled to leave Toronto on Sunday evening after their afternoon match with Toronto FC in order to get back to Chicago for Monday's training. Some MLS teams do a post-game sprint out of the locker room when a flight must be caught, but little urgency could be detected amongst the Fire players. Music was blasting from the stereo, players were happily chatting with each other at their lockers and everyone seemed to be savoring the moment.
The feeling amongst the team was palpable -- the Fire's season had turned a corner.
In the midst of a six-match winless streak and a 1-8-3 record since the start of May, the Fire recorded their biggest win over the season, a 3-0 decision against Toronto FC at BMO Field. Chicago collected 10 shots on goal to Toronto's three, outshot TFC 14-5 overall and dominated the game from start to finish.
"I think all the hard work has paid off, at least for today's game," said Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "At both ends of the pitch I think we did very well. I can only be very pleased with our performance today and I hope we can expect these things from now on."
It was the Fire's first victory since a 3-2 win against Columbus on June 3, and it also marked a few other firsts. It was Osorio's first win since taking over as Chicago's head coach July 9 and his first victory overall as a coach in Major League Soccer.
The game was also Chicago's first win against Toronto in three games this season. The Fire had previously tied 1-1 with TFC on July 7 at Toyota Park, and became the first MLS team to ever lose to the first-year side in a 3-1 loss on May 12.
Sunday's match also saw the first regular-season MLS goal for midfielder Ivan Guerrero since June 29, 2005. In the 37th minute, Guerrero collected a pass from Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the Toronto penalty area and then maneuvered past TFC midfielder Chris Pozniak toward the goal. Guerrero sent a perfectly-placed kick over the head of Toronto goalkeeper David Monsalve and into the left-hand corner of the net for what would be the game-winning goal.
Guerrero chuckled and held his head in mock embarrassment when he was told that it was his first regular-season score in 52 games.
"We are happy," Guerrero said. "[It was] a big win. Toronto has got a good team."
The Fire's next two goal involved Calen Carr. Playing in the midfield, the 24-year-old collected an assist and a goal in the second half to cement Chicago's victory. Carr's goal, which put Chicago ahead 2-0 just before the hour mark, came on a somewhat fortunate chip shot that fooled Monsalve.
"I opened up on the right and I saw Blanco making a run through the middle," Carr said. "The last defender on the left side pinched in on Cuauhtemoc and he was smart to leave it for me. Then I saw a defender coming real fast at me and I tried to sidestep him, put it anywhere near the goal and luckily it took a deflection and went our way."
It is perhaps no coincidence that Chicago's biggest win over the season came in Blanco's first league game. The Mexican star didn't have an exceptional game by his standards, but he helped to set up Carr's goal and recorded an assist on his pass to Guerrero.
"He did well today, and I think he will do a lot better," said Osorio. "He knows he might not find the same space or time that he is used to in the Mexican league. As long as our strikers keep making their runs I think he will always find them."
The win moved Chicago ahead of Toronto for sixth in the Eastern Conference with 19 points. In spite of the club's struggles this season, the MLS Cup Playoffs are still a possibility for Osorio's squad.
"[The playoffs] are our main objective now," said the Fire coach. "If we keep doing things the way we do it today, I think it's in our reach."
Carr echoed his coach in using Sunday's win as a template for Chicago's 13 remaining games.
"We've been struggling for a little while and to get a big win on the road like this is going to give us a lot of confidence," Carr said. "I think it was a gusty performance from everybody from back to front.
"The locker room is alive right now," he added. "Everyone feels great."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
