Fire Open Season With Win Over Dallas

The Chicago Fire got its season off to a good start with a 3-1 win over F.C. Dallas.

Mar 21, 2009 11:08:17 PM

More On :  Chicago Fire, FC Dallas

It was a star-studded night in Frisco, Texas, as Brian McBride, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and the Chicago Fire came to town to take on Kenny Cooper, Jeff Cunningham, and F.C. Dallas. The Fire left victorious in a 3-1 contest.

Don't Miss

 

The home side got off to a good start through Cooper, who opened the scoring in just the 9th minute with a thunderous shot from far outside the box. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch did poorly to keep out the shot which came from beyond midfield and is an immediate candidate for goal of the year.


Dallas would hold the lead for the better part of the first half after Cooper’s opener, but Chicago turned the tables just before the break.

 

Patrick Nyarko found Justin Mapp inside the penalty area. The winger finished nicely and evened the score at one goal apiece.

 

Chicago took the lead early in the second half when Drew Moor conceded the first penalty of the season. In stepped veteran striker Brian McBride to slot home the goal, and Chicago had a lead that it would never relinquish.

 

Dallas pushed hard for its second goal, racking up 20 shots, but could not find the target and ended the match with only one shot on goal.

 

Chicago put the match out of reach in the dying minutes when Blanco, used as a second half sub, put the away side two goals up with shot from outside the penalty area.   

 

Goals

Kenny Cooper, Dallas (9th)

Justin Mapp, Chicago (38th)

Brian McBride, Chicago (51st)

Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chicago (94th)

 

Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
Follow Goal.com on Twitter
Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
6 Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. RIGG: Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly no Mr. February RIGG: Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly no Mr. February

    The Swedish striker traditionally struggles in February. Facing a three-match ban this month, the jinx looks set to continue.

  2. DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream

    In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.

  3. ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein

    Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.

  4. LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction

    With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?

  5. ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment

    Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.

 
Advertisement
Advertisement