Fire Fall to Revolution, Dropping Third Game in a Row

Chicago Fire 0 - 2 New England Revolution
Kelyn Rowe (69')
Benny Feilhaber (73')

The Chicago Fire were out to  find a win on the road this weekend after dropping the two previous games to Columbus Crew and Michigan Bucks, but failed to do so as New England Revolution netted two unanswered second half goals, handing Chicago their third consecutive loss.

The Revolution almost found the back of the net within the first five minutes.  After they relieved pressure in their defense, the Revolution strung together a quick counter attack that resulted in a 20 yard boot from Benny Feilhabe which sent Sean Johnson sprawling to put a finger on the rocket.  The ball fizzed past the post, however, and no harm was done.  

The Fire almost struck back in the 17^th minute off a 30 yard free kick.  Pavel Pardo laced the free kick into the box where Gonzalo Segares flicked the ball past the Revolution’s Matt Reis, but off the far post and back into play.  The Fire almost found the back of the net again in the 29^th minute when Dominic Oduro claimed a misplaced pass from Cardenas.  The Ghanaian saw Reis off his line and attempted to drop the ball in behind him, but his shot swerved off target and out of play.  

Sebastian Grazzini gave the Fire the last attempt on goal in the first half with a one-timer that was smothered by Reis.  The teams went into the locker rooms square at 0-0.  

The Fire came out of the halftime break with all guns blazing.  They quickly built up an attack where Pavel Pardo chipped a ball into the box to a waiting Orr Barouch who knocked the ball back to Dominic Oduro who headed the ball past Matt Reis and off the post.  Minutes later, Sebastian Grazzini lined up a shot just outside the box.  His ball was deflected, but Matt Reis’ reaction kept the ball out of the Revolution’s net.  

The Fire kept the pressure up and in the 59^th minute, the Fire saw another chance fall to the way-side when Oduro and Patrick Nyarko combined for a ranged shot that forced a diving save from Matt Reis.
 

New England picked it up in the 60^th minute when Sene slipped a ball through midfield which found Revolution rookie Kelyn Rowe at pace. The young  attacked drove one-on- toward the Fire’s  goal and fired a low ball that Sean Johnson kept out with an impressive kick save.

In the 69^th minute, Fire substituted forward Chris Rolfe for Dominic Oduro. Just seconds after his entry, the Revolution would strike gold as Benny Feilhaber played a perfect through ball to Kelyn Rowe into the box out of the midfield. The rookie Rowe took the gifted pass knocked the ball inside the right post to give the Revolution side a 1-0 lead over the Fire. 

Four minutes later, the pair would once again link up to put the game away. This time Benny Feilhaber played a quick give-and-go with Rowe where rookie slotted him a gem into the box.   The U.S. international masterly slotted the ball into the back post, giving the Revolution a 2-0 lead.

The Revs nearly went up 3-0, but Sean Johnson came up big in the 75^th minute when Saer Sene dribbled through four Fire defensemen and fired a shot home.  It was Johnson’s diving effort that kept the Fire in the game.  Johnson’s skills were put to the test once again when a failed clearance landed at the feet of Lee Nguyen.  Nguyen laid off a ball for Stephen McCarthy who laced an attempt to the corner, only to be denied by a diving Sean Johnson. 

Things tapered off at the end of the match and the New England effort saw the Fire off 2-0.  The Fire drop to fifth in the Eastern Conference of the MLS and will head home to be tested on June 17^th as they face off against powerhouse New York Red Bulls.  The Fire will need to solidify their back line and find the right side of the post if they want to remain in the top half of the conference and see post season action.     

By Matt Sinacore