Chicago Fire Tie Toronto FC 1-1

Barrett scores first career penalty kick in 70th minute

Midfielder Justin Mapp returns from U.S. Men’s National Team duty

BRIDGEVIEW, IL (July 7, 2007) – The Chicago Fire (4-7-4, 16 pts.) tied Toronto FC (5-7-3, 18 pts.) 1-1 in a physical Eastern Conference match tonight at TOYOTA PARK in front of 13,080 fans.  Forward Chad Barrett provided the Fire’s loan tally of the game, burying a penalty kick in the 70th minute of play, but Toronto defender Marvell Wynne and midfielder Maurice Edu connected in the 78th minute to knot the score. Fire midfielder Justin Mapp returned for the “Men in Red” after spending six weeks with the U.S. Men’s National team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONMEBOL Copa America.

In the 24th minute Barrett received a ball from midfielder Logan Pause inside the 18-yard box, but as he attempted a one-time shot the Toronto defense knocked him off the ball.  Barrett recovered positioning and tapped a pass for midfielder Thiago streaking into the box.  Thiago’s shot across the goal flew wide of the far left post and out-of-bounds.

The Fire opened scoring in the second half as Barrett scored on a penalty kick in the 70th minute.  Barrett collected a back-heel pass from midfielder Bakary Soumare as he entered the left corner of the 18-yard box, but received a blow from defender Tyrone Marshall that resulted in a penalty kick opportunity for the Fire. Barrett put the shot to into the lower right corner past Toronto goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic to notch the Fire’s first goal since June 16 against D.C. United.

Toronto answered in the 78th minute, as Wynne served a lofting ball from the center of the field, just outside the box, to Edu.  Edu, positioned inside the six-yard box, slotted the ball into the right side of the net to level the game, 1-1. 

A Mapp freekick in the 86th minute bent left around the Toronto wall and was headed for the left upper-90, but Djekanovic tipped the shot over the crossbar. In the 90th minute, the Fire again looked for the go-ahead-goal as Djekanovic bobbled a ball at the top of the box and forward Floyd Franks collected the ball.  With an open goal Franks sent in a shot that sailed wide of the left post.