playing good defense -- expecting the back pressure from the midfield. Ralph just found the hole."
CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH DAVE SARACHAN:
On the game:
"I was very pleased and proud of my team today."
On D.C. United:
"D.C.'s a good team. They had some good possession, like we knew they would, but we knew that and planned on that."
On Ralph's goal:
"Obviously, I am proud of Damani. Every game, he has guys up his butt, but I thought he did good."
On how it felt to end their goalless streak:
"Have you ever been constipated?"
CHICAGO FIRE GOALKEEPER HENRY RING:
On his third shutout of the season:
"This is the most work I've had to do in a game. Jimmy (Curtin), Evan (Whitfield), Kelly (Gray) and C.J. (Brown), the guys in the back, those are their shutouts."
On D.C.'s pressure:
"They got after us really good in the first half. In the second half, I don't know if their pace dropped off or what, but ours stayed the same. We got the edge in the second half."
On Freddy Adu:
"He looks dangerous on the ball. There are just certain players that do that. He looks like he wants to do something with the ball every time he has it. I think he's going to be good, he's going to be dangerous. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but he's going to be a good player."
On Peter Nowak:
"It's really surreal sitting across the bench from him. He's put together a quality side. They're playing good, (getting) organized chances. They're just not getting their breaks."
On his new role as starter:
"I see new situations every single game. It's kind of hard for me to believe that I'm starting after sitting for three years. That's a long time. I'm really excited about the opportunity. The games are coming and I'm reacting and trying to react to what's in front of me."
CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD DAMANI RALPH:
On the game:
"It was a hard-fought game. Several of our guys came up big today, and that was important."
On his goal:
"It's one of those fortunate things. As a forward, you have to hope that you'll get the ball and the defense will open up. That's what happened."
