The Chicago Fire saw their unbeaten record at their new Toyota Park home ended on Saturday night, as the New England Revolution weathered a tremendous storm over the final 45 minutes to hang on for a 2-1 victory.
Two terrific passing movements finished off by Steve Ralston and Andy Dorman gave the Revolution a two-goal lead by halftime. Then, although Nate Jaqua cut the lead to one just six minutes after the break, the Fire couldn't get any closer and lost for the first time in five games in Bridgeview.
The Revolution started much more quickly, and although they weren't able to create any real efforts at goal, their attack began to show more clarity. But it was the Fire that had the first good chance.
After a corner kick, the ball fell to Justin Mapp, and he shaped to fire a hard, low shot on goal that Revolution 'keeper Matt Reis was ready for, making the save.
But the Revolution took the lead in the 24th minute. After receiving a long crossfield ball from Taylor Twellman on the left flank, Clint Dempsey ran at his defender, did a pair of stepovers and knocked a square pass to Ralston. The veteran winger neatly turned around his defender and hit a powerful shot inside Zach Thornton's left-hand post to put the visitors into the lead.
The Fire narrowly missed pulling level in the 26th minute when Andy Herron, from outside the area, ripped a rising drive that Reis just tipped onto the crossbar.
The Revolution then made the job a little tougher for the Fire. In the 37th minute, Twellman again armed the attack, racing onto a ball from Ralston and carrying it into the Chicago penalty area. He then knocked a backheel into the path of Dorman, who clinically knocked it inside the right-hand post from just outside the area to give New England a 2-0 lead.
In response, in what would be a sign of things to come, the Fire again came close in the 38th minute when another corner fell to Ivan Guerrero. While his shot was hit with power, Reis was able to hold it.
After the restart, Chicago began with the initiative and nearly scored in the 50th minute. Mapp served in a cross for Jaqua in the penalty area, but his header sailed over the crossbar.
The search for goal finally bore fruit a minute later when Jaqua finally finished a chance. Diego Gutierrez knocked a ball forward into the left side of the penalty area which Jaqua received, cut back to his right foot and curled inside the far post for his fourth goal of the season.
That started the Fire onslaught. In the 65th minute, Thiago sent in a centering pass and C.J. Brown got his head to it, but it was off target and the ball sailed wide. A minute later Guerrero was alone in front of Reis after Jaqua headed a cross down, but the Revolution 'keeper again came up with the save.
Then Chicago appeared to have tied the score. Thiago sent the ball past Reis and as it rolled to the goal, Herron battled with Revolution defender James Riley. The Fire striker looked to have won the ball away before knocking it into the empty net, but referee Tim Weyland ruled Herron had committed a foul and disallowed the apparent equalizer.
The chances continued to come, but despite a massive difference in shots, the final telling touch was always lacking, and New England captured an important victory in maintaining its hold on second place in the Eastern Conference.
Raquel Ortiz is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
