After gaining a man advantage for most of the second half, and after taking a lead in the 68th minute on a goal by Marco Pappa, the Fire gave up a corner kick tally in the 74th minute to Tyrone Marshall and had to settle for their fourth consecutive draw, a 1-1 tie with Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at Toyota Park.
The Fire remain unbeaten in seven games but have five draws to go with two wins for 11 points. Seattle earned its first draw of the season and is 4-2-1 with 13 points.
With Seattle down a man due to a red card to Fredy Montero in the 48th minute, the Fire's goal came midway through the second half, and came while Fire defender Gonzalo Segares lay on the ground out by the east sideline. Segares went down in a collision going after the ball, but play went on and the ball ended up on the foot of Cuauhtemoc Blanco inside the penalty area to the right of goal.
Blanco made a stop turn with two defenders in front of him and centered the ball to Marco Pappa, who made a quick strike to the near corner past Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller. It was only the fourth goal scored against Seattle in seven games this season, and it was Pappa's third goal of the season.
It was also the first goal scored against Keller since coming to Major League Soccer, after 456 scoreless minutes to begin his record in the U.S. top flight, the longest shutout streak to start a season. It's the fourth-longest streak without conceding a goal in league history.
Segares tried to return to play but left the game in the 71st minute, with Brandon Prideaux taking his place on the back line.
Seattle tied the score in the 74th minute on a shot by Marshall off a corner kick by Freddie Ljungberg. Ljungberg's kick went to the far side of the goal area and completely unmarked, Marshall had a simple touch on the ball to score the goal.
After the club's midweek friendly against Club America, Fire coach Denis Hamlett went with his best available XI, including Tim Ward back at right back and Marco Pappa at midfield in place of injured veteran Justin Mapp. Mapp has missed three consecutive games with a hamstring strain.
Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid kept the same team that defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 at home last weekend.
The first early action for the Fire came in the ninth minute when forward Patrick Nyarko made a run on goal with the ball but ended up on the ground along with Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller. The ball squirted out toward the top of the penalty area, but Cuauhtemoc Blanco could not find any room to squeeze off a shot.
In the 15th minute, Blanco dribbled the ball half the field before sending it out wide right to Brian McBride. McBride sent a ball into the box for Nyarko, who attempted a header but the ball was too low for him to hit it square.
In the 20th minute, the Fire got a bad break on a shot by Nyarko. John Thorrington dribbled the ball down the right sideline then sent a ball into Nyarko, who got a good foot on the ball on a layout in the goal box. But the ball hit sharply off the left post and bounced out of the box and the danger area.
In the 39th minute, the Fire tried the combinations yet again, as Tim Ward brought the ball up from his right back position, slotted a pass to Nyarko who sent a quick cross across the goalmouth to McBride. But the pass was too far in front of McBride and he was late on the slide.
The first half ended in a scoreless tie, but the Fire were credited with eight shots, two on goal, while Sounders FC had two shots, none on goal.
The game changed dramatically in the 48th minute when Sounders FC forward Montero was given a red card for an elbow into the face of Segares while both players went up for a ball in the air.
In the 55th minute, the Fire got their first card when defender Bakary Soumare was cited for contact with Keller on a Fire scoring chance.
In the 65th minute, Hamlett made his first substitution, sending in Chris Rolfe for Thorrington. In the 82nd minute, Hamlett sent midfielder Mike Banner into the game for Pappa.
The Fire ended the match with a 15-4 edge in total shots, with five on goal to just one for Sounders FC -- the goal scored by Marshall. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch was not credited with a single save.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
