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Played
July 8, 2010 9:30 PM EDT
Toyota Park, Chicago, Ill.
July 8, 2010 9:30 PM EDT
Toyota Park, Chicago, Ill.
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Chicago Fire 0-1 Real Salt Lake: Findley Strike Finishes Fire
Findley does what he could not do in South Africa.
By Isaac Heath
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – A large crowd that apparently still has World Cup fever showed up for the Chicago Fire – Real Sal Lake match Thursday night in Bridgeview.
Real Salt Lake grabbed an early 1-0 lead off a Robbie Findley penalty kick, and the visitors held on for the remainder of the game.
First Half
While both the Fire and Real Salt Lake are known for playing a more controlled pace, the teams came out with loads of energy and not much direction.
Neither team controlled much from the start and exchanged brief flirtations with the goal. In what can only be described as a frenetic open game with little defense and even less offensive composure, the first half was at the very least, entertaining.
In the first 10 minutes of the game Javier Morales and Jamison Olave both missed opportunities over the goal. Morales found himself alone at the top of the 18 but his shot went wide, while Olave nearly connected on a cross, but his header was launched over the net.
The Fire was around the box a decent amount, but really did not put a good effort on goal, and looked lost with youngster Stefan Dimitrov up top. On the other hand, the visitors became stronger as the half went on.
First it was Alvaro Saborio who broke through the back line and found himself in a one on one with Dykstra, but his angle was poor and with Brown closing in he was only able to fire a left footed strike right at the keeper.
U.S. national team player Robbie Findley started to become a factor in the final 8 minutes. First he hit a great bending shot from the top of the box that beat Dykstra but clanged against the post.
The next minute Findley went one on one with C.J. Brown and the veteran defender fouled him in the box. Findley calmly stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the right side of the goal to give Real Salt Lake a 1-0 lead.
Findley had a one on one just a few minutes later but hesitated and then failed to get a shot off, wasting a golden opportunity to go up 2-0.
Second Half
To start the second half Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos recognized the need for better attack and inserted Brian McBride for Dimitrov, and Justin Mapp in place of Logan Pause.
It nearly paid off the first minute of the half as McBride attempted to turn in the box, but his attempt rolled past the post.
Steven Kinney broke through the RSL defense a minute later and then cut back a sitter for Baggio Husidic at the top of the box. The midfielder whiffed on the opportunity but the Fire ended up getting a corner out of the play.
Kinney showed up again on the ensuing corner by Mike Banner, but his header hit the post in the same spot as Findley’s first half opportunity and was cleared for another corner. The defender then hit the opposite post on a header off another corner just 10 minutes later.
Outside of a few chances created by sub Fabian Espindola, the Fire dominated and continued to press for the tying goal. In the 70th minute Justin Mapp hit a low cross in from the right wing that no Fire player connected with and Nick Rimando batted it away from the face of the goal.
Chicago had a few last gasp opportunities, but as has been the story all season, they lacked precision in the final third.
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Real Salt Lake grabbed an early 1-0 lead off a Robbie Findley penalty kick, and the visitors held on for the remainder of the game.
First Half
While both the Fire and Real Salt Lake are known for playing a more controlled pace, the teams came out with loads of energy and not much direction.
Neither team controlled much from the start and exchanged brief flirtations with the goal. In what can only be described as a frenetic open game with little defense and even less offensive composure, the first half was at the very least, entertaining.
In the first 10 minutes of the game Javier Morales and Jamison Olave both missed opportunities over the goal. Morales found himself alone at the top of the 18 but his shot went wide, while Olave nearly connected on a cross, but his header was launched over the net.
The Fire was around the box a decent amount, but really did not put a good effort on goal, and looked lost with youngster Stefan Dimitrov up top. On the other hand, the visitors became stronger as the half went on.
First it was Alvaro Saborio who broke through the back line and found himself in a one on one with Dykstra, but his angle was poor and with Brown closing in he was only able to fire a left footed strike right at the keeper.
U.S. national team player Robbie Findley started to become a factor in the final 8 minutes. First he hit a great bending shot from the top of the box that beat Dykstra but clanged against the post.
The next minute Findley went one on one with C.J. Brown and the veteran defender fouled him in the box. Findley calmly stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the right side of the goal to give Real Salt Lake a 1-0 lead.
Findley had a one on one just a few minutes later but hesitated and then failed to get a shot off, wasting a golden opportunity to go up 2-0.
Second Half
To start the second half Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos recognized the need for better attack and inserted Brian McBride for Dimitrov, and Justin Mapp in place of Logan Pause.
It nearly paid off the first minute of the half as McBride attempted to turn in the box, but his attempt rolled past the post.
Steven Kinney broke through the RSL defense a minute later and then cut back a sitter for Baggio Husidic at the top of the box. The midfielder whiffed on the opportunity but the Fire ended up getting a corner out of the play.
Kinney showed up again on the ensuing corner by Mike Banner, but his header hit the post in the same spot as Findley’s first half opportunity and was cleared for another corner. The defender then hit the opposite post on a header off another corner just 10 minutes later.
Outside of a few chances created by sub Fabian Espindola, the Fire dominated and continued to press for the tying goal. In the 70th minute Justin Mapp hit a low cross in from the right wing that no Fire player connected with and Nick Rimando batted it away from the face of the goal.
Chicago had a few last gasp opportunities, but as has been the story all season, they lacked precision in the final third.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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Top Scorers
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