BRIDGEVIEW, IL (June 9, 2007) – The Chicago Fire (4-5-2 14 pts.) lost a hard fought game, 1-0, against Chivas USA (4-3-2 14 pts.) in front of a sold out crowd of 20,507 tonight at TOYOTA PARK. Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura notched the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to score the lone goal of the game.
The Fire began attacking early as Chad Barrett took a touch around Chivas USA Nagamura on the right sideline and sent a cross to the middle of the six-yard box that sailed just over Fire forward Calen Carr’s head. The Fire held strong defensively through a barrage of shots late in the half. In the 35th minute, former Fire striker Ante Razov sent a corner kick into the box onto the head of midfielder Francisco Mendoza, who helped the ball into the middle of the box for Claudio Suarez. A hard shot from Suarez sailed straight up the middle and was punched clear by Pickens.
In the 37th minute, Carr collected the ball and took on three defenders, charging up the middle in the Fire’s attacking third before winning a corner kick at the end line. Fire midfielder Brian Plotkin sent the corner kick into the box but the Chivas defense easily cleared the ball. Despite attacking efforts from each squad, both teams went back into the locker room at halftime scoreless.
In the 60th minute Francisco Mendoza attempted to break the stalemate with a shot from just outside the box, but a diving Pickens stifled the ball headed for the near right post. Pickens continued to be a defensive force in the second half, making the save of the game in the 65th minute. Razov received a ball inside the box, a step ahead of the Fire defense, and blasted a shot on goal – but Pickens easily gathered the ball to keep the score tied at zero.
Chivas USA got their go-ahead-goal in the 79th minute of play as Razov slipped a ball through two Fire defenders to forward Maykel Galindo holding in the middle of the box. Galindo laid the ball off into the box that deflected off Fire defender Dasan Robinson’s foot and to Nagamura, whose shot sailed to the left of outstretched Pickens and just inside the right post.
Chicago attempted a corner kick in the 81st minute as Plotkin sent the ball deep into the box for Barrett, who got off a shot but was unable to find the net. Just a minute later Fire veteran Diego Gutierrez ripped a shot from outside the 18-yard box toward the right post, but a diving Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan made the save to maintain Chivas USA’s one-goal-advantage.
"I certainly give Chivas some credit. They came in and did a good job making it hard on us with a lot of possession and active movement. They’re a good team. We never quite got out of second gear tonight.”
Fire midfielder Floyd Franks and forward Mike Banner logged their first MLS minutes of the season in the loss. Franks came off the bench for Willian Oliveira in the 70th minute and Banner subbed in for Jim Curtin in the 86th minute to register his first career MLS minutes.
Tonight’s loss holds the “Men in Red” in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 14 points, six points behind the conference-leading New York Red Bulls. The Fire return to action next Saturday, June 16, as team takes on D.C. United (3-3-2 11 pts.) on the road at RFK Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT, HDNet).
Fire Lineup: GK-Matt Pickens, D-Dasan Robinson, D-C.J. Brown, D-Jim Curtin (Mike Banner 86), M-Brian Plotkin, M-Diego Gutierrez, M-Bakary Soumare, M-Willian Oliveira (Floyd Franks 70), F-Chad Barrett, F-Calen Carr (Jerson Monteiro 87).
Chivas USA Lineup: GK-Brad Guzan, D-Alex Zotinca (Jason Hernandez 82), D-Claudio Suarez, D-Shavar Thomas, D-Orlando Perez; M-Sacha Kljestan, M-Jesse Marsch, M-Paulo Nagamura, M-Francisco Mendoza, F-Ante Razov, F-Mykel Galindo (Matt Taylor 83).
CHV – Paulo Nagamura (UA) 79
CHV – Sacha Kljestan (Caution, Tackle from Behind) 21
CHI – Bakary Soumare (Caution, Professional Foul) 24
CHI – C.J. Brown (Caution, Pushing, Holding) 47+
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee's Assistants: Fabio Tovar, Kyle Borne
4th Official: Michael Kennedy
Attendance: 20,407
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees