Still without a number of starters to injury and national team duty, the Chicago Fire lost for the sixth time in their last eight games, falling 3-1 to D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Saturday night.
With Justin Mapp (USA) and Ivan Guerrero (Honduras) already on national team duty in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Fire were also missing regular midfielders Chris Armas and Thiago, forward Chris Rolfe and defender Logan Pause to injuries. But despite not having two important regulars themselves - 2006 MLS defender of the year Bobby Boswell, out to suspension, and MLS career scoring leader Jamie Moreno on Bolivian national team duty - the hosts dominated the flow of play throughout the match.
United created a slew of chances on net and coasted to victory behind two goals from resurgent striker Luciano Emilio and some shaky goalkeeping from the Fire's Matt Pickens. The Fire pulled one back in the second half through rookie Jerson Monteiro, but were unable to muster enough of an attack to equalize.
The Fire had the first look of the night at goal when Floyd Franks almost got in behind the United defense, but was just unable to get a foot to the ball inside the D.C. penalty area before United 'keeper Troy Perkins came off his line to collect the ball.
A blunder by Pickens in the sixth minute gave United an early lead. Brazilian midfielder Fred sent in a curling cross from the left wing that took one short hop before Pickens attempted to smother the ball. However, Pickens was unable to hold on to the cross and the ball popped directly into the opportunistically placed Rod Dyachenko - making his first start of the season in place of Moreno - who slammed the ball into the open net for his first career MLS goal.
United almost struck again minutes later after getting out on the break after a Fire free kick deep in the United end. United got numbers forward and into the box as Ben Olsen fired in a cross from the right side over the Chicago defense to an open Christian Gomez. But the Argentinean's header went just wide of the goal and a sliding effort from Emilio.
While United controlled the run of play for significant portions of the half against the relatively inexperienced Fire midfield, the Chicago outfit relied on a number of through balls sent into open space behind the United defenders. The ploy almost paid off when the Fire had an exquisite opportunity to tie the game when Calen Carr released Bakary Soumare behind the United defense straight down the middle of the field. With Perkins moving in quickly to cut down the angles, Soumare's attempt at goal went wide right.
United used the same tactic, however, to extend their lead in the 25th minute. Gomez made a deft chip from the center of the field to Emilio, who had snuck in behind the flat-footed Fire defenders. With Pickens coming off his line to challenge the Brazilian-born striker, Emilio took the ball on the bounce just outside the edge of the area and delicately volleyed the ball over the onrushing 'keeper into the open net for his fourth goal of the year.
United continued to dominate play throughout the first half, methodically working the ball around the field, probing the Fire defense with crosses from the wings.
Dyachenko nearly added a second goal in the 41st minute. United had numbers forward as Emilio brought the ball into the left-hand side of the box. The forward slid a ball to the center of the penalty area where an open Dyachenko settled the ball and took a strike that deflected off a Fire defender that Pickens did well to parry to safety.
The Fire once again looked to get in behind the United defense as the second half got underway. Forward Chad Barrett barely lost a foot race to a through ball at the corner of United's penalty area, as Perkins beat the speedy striker to the ball and cleared it to safety.
United kept up the pressure just minutes later though to open a 3-0 lead. Devon McTavish took a few dribbles in the midfield and found Gomez overlapping into open space on the left hand side of the box. Gomez's low, driven shot was parried by Pickens directly into the path of Emilio, who simply walked the ball into the open net for his second goal of the game and fifth on the year.
A sublime strike by second half substitute Monteiro - on at the half for Jordan Russolillo - just minutes later gave the Fire some life. After receiving a through ball into the right hand side of the United penalty area, the Angolan-born forward took a dribble to beat D.C. defender Facundo Erpen and hit a low right-footed shot past the outstretched hands of Perkins into the bottom left-hand side of the goal for his first career MLS goal and to bring the score line to 3-1.
United had two solid chances at goal in the span of two minutes when first Gomez was released into the penalty box, but Pickens charged off his line to deny the Argentinean midfielder from extending United's lead. Moments later Fred found himself with only the 'keeper to beat but was also stymied.
Ben Olsen couldn't replicate last week's hat trick form in the 69th minute after finding himself on the receiving end of a Justin Moose through ball into the Fire penalty area. The midfielder took an extra second too long to unleash his shot and his strike blasted into the near side netting.
Both sides had a few efforts at net in the remaining minutes of the game, but United comfortably held on to the lead to send the Fire to a second consecutive loss.
Jordan Brown is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
