BRIDGEVIEW, IL (July 1, 2007) – The Chicago Fire (4-6-3, 15 pts.) tied the Colorado Rapids (4-7-4 16 pts.) 0-0 in a physical match tonight at TOYOTA PARK. Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens recorded the shutout, his fourth of the season, in front of a crowd of 10,626. Tonight’s game marked the first league match with interim head coach Denis Hamlett at the helm for the “Men in Red”.
In the 17th minute the Fire had their first scoring opportunity, as forward Chad Barrett slipped a back-heel pass from the left corner to midfielder Ivan Guerrero just inside the box. Guerrero sent a cross to the middle of the six-yard box for forward Jerson Monteiro running in from the right, but Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul knocked the ball clear of danger. The Fire continued to pressure the Rapids’ backline, but were unable to capitalize on any of their chances in the attacking third.
The Rapids attempted to break the stalemate in the 21st minute with a strike from Colin Clark inside the box. Pickens easily saved the shot as he came off his line closing down the angle. With only two shots on goal apiece in the first half, both teams entered the locker room at halftime scoreless.
The Fire’s best opportunity to gain an advantage came in the second half, as midfielder Chris Armas collected the ball inside the left corner of the 18-yard box in the 63rd minute and let loose a shot that was redirected toward the goal by forward Jerson Monteiro positioned just atop the six-yard box. Monteiro’s deflection ricocheted off the middle of the crossbar and away from the goal.
In the 75th minute, Calen Carr stepped up in attempt to provide the go-ahead-goal as he battled through two defenders, looking for a chance to strike. Carr carried the ball towards the middle of the goal and ripped a shot that sailed just over the frame, keeping the score locked at zero.
With about ten minutes to play, rookie defender Bakary Soumare is taken town by Rapids midfielder Colin Clark. Soumare retaliated with a shove to the chest, forcing referee Ramon Hernandez to issue a red card ejection to Soumare, and a yellow card caution to Clark for a reckless foul.
A scramble in front of the Fire’s goal during the fourth minute of stoppage time saw the Rapids threaten, but Pickens aggressively shutdown Colin Clark on the left side of the box to keep the game scoreless at the last whistle.
“Tonight was a difficult night,” said Chicago Fire interim head coach Denis Hamlett. “From the start our passing and movement wasn’t good enough. It made for a hard night.”
The tie tonight brings the Fire to 4-6-3 (15 pts.) on the season, positioned in sixth place in the Eastern Conference Standings, seven points behind the conference-leading New England Revolution. The Fire return to action Wednesday July 4, as the “Men in Red” travel to Carson, California to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy (9:30 p.m. CT, HDNet, Comcast SportsNet) at the Home Depot Center.
Fire Lineup: GK-Matt Pickens, D-C.J. Brown, D-Diego Gutierrez (Captain), D-Gonzalo Segares, M-Logan Pause, M-Ivan Guerrero, M-Brian Plotkin, M-Bakary Soumare, M-Jerson Monteiro (Calen Carr 67), F-Willian Oliveira (Chris Armas 56), F-Chad Barrett (Thiago 70).
Rapids Lineup: GK-Bouna Coundoul, D-Dan Gargan, D-Facundo Erpen, D-Ugo Ihemelu, D-Brandon Prideaux, M-Terry Cooke (Roberto Brown 71), M-Colin Clark, M-Jovan Kirovski, M-Pablo Mastroeni (Daniel Wasson 38), M-Jacob Peterson, F-Nicolas Hernandez.
None
COL – Brandon Prideaux (Caution, Dissent) 22
COL – Ugo Ihemelu (Caution, Dissent) 41
CHI – Bakary Soumare (Ejection, Violent Conduct) 83
COL – Colin Clark (Caution, Reckless Foul) 84
Referee: Ramon Hernandez
Referee's Assistants: Steven Taylor, Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Abiodun Okulaja
Attendance: 10,626
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Sunny, 73 degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.