Dynamo down Fire in Disney Showcase finale

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - The Chicago Fire suffered the first loss of its 2007 preseason slate Sunday evening, falling 3-1 to defending MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo in the squad's second and final game at Disney's Presidents' Day Weekend Showcase at The Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista. The "Men in Red" jumped out to a quick lead just past the quarter-hour mark on a Pascal Bedrossian penalty kick, but three consecutive Dynamo goals led to the Fire's first defeat in five spring contests, bringing its record to 3-1-1.

As it did in Friday night's Disney Showcase win over Real Salt Lake, the Fire jumped out to an early lead. After taking the ball into the left side of the penalty area, Chicago midfielder Justin Mapp earned a point to the penalty spot after being taken down by a Houston defender 16 minutes into the match. Despite Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad guessing correctly to his left, Bedrossian saw his low kick beat the 'keeper just inside the right post to give Chicago the 1-0 lead and the Frenchman his second goal of the preseason. Unlike Friday night, that lead would not last long, as just two minutes later Houston defender Ryan Cochrane, pushing forward on a free kick, headed in a ball inside the left post from the doorstep to bring the match back square at 1-1.

The two teams traded chances in the minutes following the goals, but Houston forward Paul Dalglish's header went over the crossbar and Bedrossian's effort from distance missed wide left. Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario nearly made the Fire pay for a turnover in the final third when he lashed onto a ball from 30 yards, but the sizzling half-volley missed a couple feet high around the half-hour mark. Cochrane narrowly missed his second of the match in the 34th minute when his header off a set piece was sent just wide of the right post.

Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan made a line change at the half, replacing all 11 of his players, while Houston stuck with its starters a little while longer. The half started quickly, as new Fire netminder Dane Brenner was pressed into service in the first minute and saved a Brian Mullan shot at the left post, while two minutes later Fire forward Calen Carr forced Onstad into a similar save on a low shot at his right post.

The Dynamo first team would make its swan song in the 62nd minute, but not before converting on another set piece right on the hour mark as striker Alejandro Moreno ushered in midfielder Brad Davis's corner kick past Brenner to give Houston a 2-1 lead. After the Dynamo made their wholesale substitutions, rookie Corey Ashe would get into the match quickly, lashing a left-footed shot from just outside the left corner of the area into the right side of goal on a stunning strike, upping the Houston cushion to 3-1.

The "Men in Red" returned to its camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton following the match, where they will spend four more days training during the first leg of their preseason. Chicago will face one more opponent during its 16-day Florida excursion this Wednesday, Feb. 21, when the Fire will face off against the Kansas City Wizards at IMG at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Scoring Summary:

CHI - Pascal Bedrossian 2 (penalty kick) 16

HOU - Ryan Cochrane 18

HOU - Alejandro Moreno (Brad Davis) 60

HOU - Corey Ashe 63

Fire Lineup (3-5-2): GK-Matt Pickens (Dane Brenner 45) (Nick Noble 70); D-C.J. Brown (Jeff Curtin 45), D-Jim Curtin (Osei Telesford 45), D-Dasan Robinson (Jordan Russolillo 45) (Daniel Woolard 70); M-Logan Pause (Erik Hort 45) (Mark Totten 70), M-Chris Armas (Bakary Soumare 45), M-Diego Gutierrez (Derek Kosek 45), M-Pascal Bedrossian (Mike Banner 45) (Roody Lormera 73), M-Ivan Guerrero (Brian Plotkin 45); F-Chris Rolfe (Jerson Monteiro 45), F-Justin Mapp (Calen Carr 45) (Andrae Clarke 73).

Dynamo Lineup (4-4-2): GK-Pat Onstad (Zach Wells 62); D-Craig Waibel (Kelly Gray 55), D-Ryan Cochrane (Justin Douglas 62), D-Eddie Robinson (Mike Chabala 17), D-Wade Barrett (Kevin Goldthwaite 62); M-Brad Davis (Nick Hatzke 62), M-Ricardo Clark (Erik Ustruck 62), M-Dwayne De Rosario (Patrick Ianni 62), M-Brian Mullen (Corey Ashe 62); F-Paul Dalglish (Mike Sambursky 62), F-Alejandro Moreno (Chris Wondolowski 62).

Discipline Summary

HOU - Eddie Robinson (caution) 23

2007 Chicago Fire Preseason Schedule