The Chicago Fire suffered only their second defeat in the team's last 10 matches in a 2-1 loss to Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Sunday evening.
The two goals allowed matched the highest total given up in a MLS league match by the Fire this season. Chicago has given up two goals only four other times in 2008, including a 2-1 loss to Houston on May 17.
All told, Chicago leads the league in fewest goals allowed with 18. Houston is tied with the San Jose Earthquakes for second in that category with 26.
The loss means that the Fire remain in third place in the Eastern Conference, their 35 points putting them three points behind the second-place New England Revolution and five behind the first-place Columbus Crew.
The Fire drew first blood with a sixth-minute goal by forward Brian McBride. Chicago midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco out-muscled Houston defender Bobby Boswell to get free inside the box on the left side, then sent a cross in to the open McBride. McBride's shot went to Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad's left to find the back of the net.
Houston midfielder Dwayne De Rosario answered less than 90 seconds after McBride's score. The Fire backline came forward in an offside trap, but De Rosario perfectly timed his run to receive fellow midfielder Brad Davis' pass and put a low shot to Fire 'keeper Jon Busch's right for the goal.
In the 25th minute, Chicago defender Bakary Soumare stymied a dangerous play in front of the net by leaping to head away a cross by Houston forward Brian Ching before Nate Jaqua could get to it. Though the Fire's league-leading defense was not in its best form for much of the match, Soumare's physical play frequently disrupted the Dynamo attack.
Fire defender Brandon Prideaux had an opportunity to put Chicago ahead in the 34th minute off of a corner kick by midfielder Justin Mapp. Prideaux received the ball with space off the back post, but his controlling touch leaked just a bit too far forward, allowing Houston defenders to smother his attempt.
Dynamo midfielder Brian Mullan gave his team the lead in the 39th minute. The play was the result of a quick pass combination from Jaqua on the left to Davis in the middle to Mullan running in on the right, and Mullan's low shot was just beyond Busch's reach.
The Fire came out with renewed energy in the second half, pressing the attack and playing much of the period in Houston's end of the field. Chicago notched a total of four shots on goal in the second half compared to Houston's one.
Soumare continued his physical play in the second half, receiving a yellow card in the 59th minute for a hard tackle on Ching. Blanco received a yellow two minutes later for leaping over Mullan's back while going for a header.
Blanco launched a long shot that nearly proved to be the equalizer in the 82nd minute. Blanco's shot was from outside the box on the left side of the attack. It would have slipped just under the crossbar but for Onstad's leaping punch-save.
The Chicago Fire will next return to Toyota Park to face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, September 6 (7:30 p.m. CT). The Houston Dynamo will next face the Kansas City Wizards in Houston on Sunday, September 7 (2:00 p.m. CT).
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
