Fire Trounce Red Bulls

3   Chicago Fire (Nyarko 4', Segares 68', Rolfe 80')         
1   New York Red Bulls (McCarthy 55')

Chicago Fire hosted the injury-plagued New York Red Bulls and came out on top, 3-1.  Chicago’s Patrick Nyarko opened the game’s scoring in the fourth minute thanks to a beautifully chipped ball from Sebastian Grazzini.  After the early lapse in gameplay, New York staved off Fire pressure for the remainder of the first half but were unable to answer the Ghanaian’s goal.   

The Red Bulls came out in the second half and found the back of the net in the 55^th minute off a corner kick from the boot of Mehdi Ballouchy.  His kick found the head of Dax McCarthy, which beat Sean Johnson at the far post.

Controversy struck in the 64^th minute when Dominic Oduro beat Ryan Meara on a fast breakaway.  His slow shot made its way to the line but defenseman Wilman Conde came in to make a sliding goal-line save.  Replays show that the Oduro ball did in fact cross the line, but the goal remained un-awarded.  The call against the Fire fueled a go-ahead goal just four minutes later.  Gonzalo Segares brought the ball back into the penalty box and slid a ball passed the mouth of the goal.  Red Bulls’ Meara broke up the pass but Segares slammed the rebound back home, putting the Fire up 2-1.

Chicago hammered the nail in the coffin in the 80^th minute when Patrick Nyarko broke away and centered a pass to an unmarked Chris Rolfe.  Rolfe calmly slotted the ball past Meara and put the fire up 3-1.
 

This victory snaps New York’s six-game unbeaten streak and Chicago’s two-game losing streak.  The Fire now reclaim fourth place in the Eastern Conference and will host rival Columbus Crew next Saturday.

By Matt Sinacore