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Fire Stuns Rapids With Late Goals
A scramble in the box in injury time lead to a Dasan Robinson goal and a 3-2 Fire win.
Aug 23, 2009 9:50:07 PM
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Omar Cummings stepped up big for the Colorado Rapids, tallying two goals ten minutes apart to lead the Rapids to a 2-0 advantage over the Chicago Fire. But Chicago caught up due to a penalty kick and two late goals to take a 3-2 win over the Rapids.
The Fire (10-6-8, 38 points) maintains second place in the East, while Colorado 8-7-6 (30 points) sits in fifth place.
"This is a sign of strong character," Chicago Fire captain C.J. Brown said. "It's a shocking, but good win. We stayed in it and battled until the end."
Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco agreed.
"We are happy for this victory especially because our conference keeps getting tighter and it was important for us to win at home," Blanco said. "We never gave up and in the second half we played better and created some scoring chances. In the first half, it was as if we weren’t even out there."
First Half
Fire defender and captain C.J. Brown hit the pitch in the 10th minute and was slow to get back up. Once play resumed, Colorado picked up the attack. Rapids midfielder Jacob Peterson sent the ball wide in the 11th minute.
Seven minutes later, Omar Cummings took off with the ball running toward goal. Cummings attempted a shot, but the ball went into the side netting.
Chicago finally tried to make some noise in the 25th minute. Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a corner kick into the box. Chris Rolfe blasted a shot off the Colorado wall. Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens scooped up the loose ball and sent it out of danger.
Fire defender Brandon Prideaux tripped up Cummings in the 27th minute for a Rapids freekick. Newly acquired Jaime Smith sent the ball wide left for a Fire goal kick.
In the 35th minute, Colorado forward Conor Casey fired a freekick over the wall. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch grabbed it. Cummings rocketed the rebound over the goal and into the stands.
Two minutes later, Peterson dribbled the ball through Fire defender Austin Washington’s feet and shot the ball. It deflected off a Fire defender for a Rapids corner kick.
Chicago had its best chance of the first half in the 40th minute. Fire forward Stefan Dimitrov shouldered the ball to Rolfe, who shot his attempt wide right. In first-half stoppage time Marco Pappa sailed the ball high, for a 0-0 score at half-time.
Second Half
Colorado didn’t waste any time getting things started in the second half. Smith shot the ball toward goal in the 48th minute. Bush blocked the shot, sending it back into play. Cummings sneaked up and knocked the rebound in for a 1-0 Colorado lead.
The Fire almost countered one minute later. Blanco sent the ball into the box, where Rolfe settled it and shot it directly on goal. Pickens pushed it over the goal. Pickens then caught the Blanco corner kick, clearing the ball out of danger.
Pickens again came up big for in the 56th minute, catching a Blanco freekick. Two minutes later, Blanco soared a high attempt toward goal. Pickens jumped up and grabbed it for the save.
On a counterattack, Jaime Smith sent the ball to Cummings, who drilled the ball into the upper netting over an outstretched Busch for a 2-0 advantage.
Pickens punched a Blanco cross out of harm’s way in the 68th minute. Pappa sent the rebound high.
Chicago finally found the net midway through the second half. Colorado’s Kosuke Kimura tackled Blanco in the box, sending the veteran to the pitch for a Fire penalty kick. Blanco shot the ball to the left. Although Pickens dove to the correct side, Blanco’s shot was a bit stronger, landing in the net and cutting the Rapids lead to 2-1.
In the 80th minute, Colorado’s Mehdi Ballouchy sent a freekick off the Fire’s wall.
Colorado pushed toward goal in the 81st minute and a defensive miss-communication almost led to a third goal for Colorado. Fire defender Dasan Robinson headed the ball just wide right of goal.
Chicago tied things up in the 86th minute when confusion in the box opened up chances for the home team. Rolfe attempted to send the ball back. Mike Banner found the ball and blasted a shot into the upper right corner over a diving Pickens.
Ballouchy sent a Colorado freekick opportunity off the wall in the 89th minute. The Rapids continued to push, with Ballouchy sending a shot toward goal seconds later. Busch made the save.
Chicago pushed in the 90th minute. Blanco took a shot. Then Rolfe was wide open in front of goal. The defenders blocked two shots, with players and Pickens flying everywhere. Chicago’s Justin Mapp sent the ball into the box seconds later. Robinson headed it in for a 3-2 Fire win.
"Our defenders cleared it... did what they were supposed to," Pickens said. "We were just caught ball-watching. It was a devastating blow to us right in our guts."
The referee took the wind out of Robinson’s sails, showing him a second yellow after Robinson pulled off his shirt during the goal celebration.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
The Fire (10-6-8, 38 points) maintains second place in the East, while Colorado 8-7-6 (30 points) sits in fifth place.
"This is a sign of strong character," Chicago Fire captain C.J. Brown said. "It's a shocking, but good win. We stayed in it and battled until the end."
Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco agreed.
"We are happy for this victory especially because our conference keeps getting tighter and it was important for us to win at home," Blanco said. "We never gave up and in the second half we played better and created some scoring chances. In the first half, it was as if we weren’t even out there."
First Half
Fire defender and captain C.J. Brown hit the pitch in the 10th minute and was slow to get back up. Once play resumed, Colorado picked up the attack. Rapids midfielder Jacob Peterson sent the ball wide in the 11th minute.
Seven minutes later, Omar Cummings took off with the ball running toward goal. Cummings attempted a shot, but the ball went into the side netting.
Chicago finally tried to make some noise in the 25th minute. Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a corner kick into the box. Chris Rolfe blasted a shot off the Colorado wall. Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens scooped up the loose ball and sent it out of danger.
Fire defender Brandon Prideaux tripped up Cummings in the 27th minute for a Rapids freekick. Newly acquired Jaime Smith sent the ball wide left for a Fire goal kick.
In the 35th minute, Colorado forward Conor Casey fired a freekick over the wall. Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch grabbed it. Cummings rocketed the rebound over the goal and into the stands.
Two minutes later, Peterson dribbled the ball through Fire defender Austin Washington’s feet and shot the ball. It deflected off a Fire defender for a Rapids corner kick.
Chicago had its best chance of the first half in the 40th minute. Fire forward Stefan Dimitrov shouldered the ball to Rolfe, who shot his attempt wide right. In first-half stoppage time Marco Pappa sailed the ball high, for a 0-0 score at half-time.
Second Half
Colorado didn’t waste any time getting things started in the second half. Smith shot the ball toward goal in the 48th minute. Bush blocked the shot, sending it back into play. Cummings sneaked up and knocked the rebound in for a 1-0 Colorado lead.
The Fire almost countered one minute later. Blanco sent the ball into the box, where Rolfe settled it and shot it directly on goal. Pickens pushed it over the goal. Pickens then caught the Blanco corner kick, clearing the ball out of danger.
Pickens again came up big for in the 56th minute, catching a Blanco freekick. Two minutes later, Blanco soared a high attempt toward goal. Pickens jumped up and grabbed it for the save.
On a counterattack, Jaime Smith sent the ball to Cummings, who drilled the ball into the upper netting over an outstretched Busch for a 2-0 advantage.
Pickens punched a Blanco cross out of harm’s way in the 68th minute. Pappa sent the rebound high.
Chicago finally found the net midway through the second half. Colorado’s Kosuke Kimura tackled Blanco in the box, sending the veteran to the pitch for a Fire penalty kick. Blanco shot the ball to the left. Although Pickens dove to the correct side, Blanco’s shot was a bit stronger, landing in the net and cutting the Rapids lead to 2-1.
In the 80th minute, Colorado’s Mehdi Ballouchy sent a freekick off the Fire’s wall.
Colorado pushed toward goal in the 81st minute and a defensive miss-communication almost led to a third goal for Colorado. Fire defender Dasan Robinson headed the ball just wide right of goal.
Chicago tied things up in the 86th minute when confusion in the box opened up chances for the home team. Rolfe attempted to send the ball back. Mike Banner found the ball and blasted a shot into the upper right corner over a diving Pickens.
Ballouchy sent a Colorado freekick opportunity off the wall in the 89th minute. The Rapids continued to push, with Ballouchy sending a shot toward goal seconds later. Busch made the save.
Chicago pushed in the 90th minute. Blanco took a shot. Then Rolfe was wide open in front of goal. The defenders blocked two shots, with players and Pickens flying everywhere. Chicago’s Justin Mapp sent the ball into the box seconds later. Robinson headed it in for a 3-2 Fire win.
"Our defenders cleared it... did what they were supposed to," Pickens said. "We were just caught ball-watching. It was a devastating blow to us right in our guts."
The referee took the wind out of Robinson’s sails, showing him a second yellow after Robinson pulled off his shirt during the goal celebration.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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