Fire net dramatic win over D.C.

Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The elements were not in the Chicago Fire's favor.

They had three suspended starters. They were playing on the road. They were playing down a goal heading into stoppage time. And anything less than a win would have officially spelled the end to Chicago's small, but lingering, playoff hopes.

Fire midfielder Sebastian Grazzini tallied an equalizer and second-half sub Diego Chaves netted the winner three minutes into stoppage time as Chicago posted a miraculous 2-1 come-from-behind victory over D.C. United on Saturday at RFK Stadium.

"It was an incredible five minutes, first for D.C. and then finally for us," Chaves said. "It was really, really intense."

Chaves' goal was his first since April 23, when the Fire played to a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dynamo. Chaves tallied four goals in the Fire's first six games to lead the team at the time, but he got out of his scoring funk at the right time as defender Gonzalo Segares assisted the game-winner.

"He was at the right place at the right time, and I'm glad he was there," Segares said of Chaves. "He's been working hard for a long time and I'm just happy that he got that goal. I'm sure that's going to motivate him."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire look to regroup at D.C. United

Cory Gibbs -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Now that the playoffs are more or less out of the picture, the Chicago Fire are simply looking to finish out their final two matches on a positive note.

But the Fire (7-9-16, 37 points) will be dramatically shorthanded when they face Eastern Conference foe D.C. United on Saturday at RFK Stadium.

Defenders Dan Gargan and Cory Gibbs are suspended because of yellow card accumulation, and midfielder Pavel Pardo is out because of a straight red card from Wednesday's 2-1 home loss to FC Dallas.

"We have to finish strong," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said. "Every time we have an opportunity to step on the field and train or play, it's all about improving as a team. We don't believe in excuses."

"We need to regroup and go over there in D.C. and look for the win," Fire defender Gonzalo Segares said. "[The Dallas loss is] definitely a big blow for us. We've been pushing really hard these past couple of months during the late run and it got us pretty close to being in the position in which we could have been fighting for the playoffs. But with the result [Wednesday], it's just really tough to swallow. We've got two more games to play and like every other game we've got to go out there and get a win."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire set record 15th draw vs. D.C.

Sebastian Grazzini -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire enjoyed a lead for less than 15 minutes against D.C. United on Thursday. Then in typical Fire fashion this season, Chicago allowed a second-half equalizer and played to a 1-1 draw in front of 15,818 at Toyota Park.

The Fire established an MLS record with their 15th draw of the season, surpassing the previous mark of 14 draws set by FC Dallas last season.

"It's not a record we're proud of," Fire defender Gonzalo Segares said. "We've had plenty of chances to win those games and be in a different position."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire open homestand with D.C.

Fire's Marco Pappa -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Playing at home or on the road has been a wash for the Chicago Fire thus far this season -- 10 points at home and 10 on the road. But if Chicago had to choose one or the other, the team clearly prefers playing in front of its home base.

The Fire play their next four games -- three in MLS action -- at Toyota Park, beginning with D.C. United on Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN2).

Pappa says Twente move is 'rumor': Dutch publication De Telegraaf reported earlier this week that FC Twente is interested in Fire midfielder Marco Pappa, with a reported offer of $2.1 million to attain his rights. But the 23-year-old Guatemalan dismissed the report on Wednesday.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire see red again, fall to D.C. at Carolina Challenge Cup

Fire's Logan Pause -- ISI Photos

For a team hoping to get a look at its offensive options heading into the 2011 Major League Soccer season, the continual red cards are not helping the Chicago Fire's cause.

Uruguayan forward Diego Chaves was ejected in the 37th minute and the Fire fell to D.C. United, 1-0, on Wednesday at the Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C.

D.C., which defeated the host Charleston Battery last week, is in good shape to repeat as Carolina Challenge Cup champion with two wins and six points in the bag. Chicago has three points from last Saturday's 1-0 win against Toronto FC and faces Charleston and potentially former Fire goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra, who just joined the Battery squad, this Saturday to wrap up the tournament.

On Wednesday, Chaves' red was Chicago's second straight in the tournament (third straight in preseason action) as defensive midfielder Logan Pause was issued a red during last Saturday's win over Toronto. Pause returned Wednesday as the tournament does not issue a one-game suspension.

"It makes for a difficult game of soccer to be played. That's the reality," Pause said of the team's recent shorthanded situations. "You take positives and negatives out of it. The positive is a situation like this helps build character and requires a team to roll up its sleeves and hope to get a result. We have another match this weekend and we've done a lot of training in our system, so we feel we're in good shape."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

VIDEO: RAUL DIAZ ARCE

As a follow-up to last month's announcement, Chicago Magic Soccer Club Technical Director Raul Diaz Arce was inducted into D.C. United's Hall of Tradition on Saturday. Here is a video of teammates and staff reflecting on his MLS career. An interesting note from Eddie Pope, talking about how Diaz Arce ran 5 miles before the team's training would even get underway:

PREVIEW: D.C. UNITED AT FIRE

Chicago vies for 1 more win before 2-week break

Between the road record and the mini-defensive roster that's available, this Chicago Fire team seems to step up in the most dire circumstances.

They face a difficult Eastern Conference test on Saturday when they host long-time rival D.C. United for a 7:30 p.m. match at Toyota Park (game televised on Fox Soccer Channel).

Defender Dasan Robinson, who scored the game-winning goal during Chicago's recent 3-2, come-from-behind win over the Colorado Rapids, has to sit this one out. He picked up his second yellow card for taking off his shirt in celebration of the game-winning goal against Colorado.

The back line has had some variations to it for many weeks now. It appears that the Fire (10-5-8, 38 points) will try to get center defensive back Wilman Conde in the lineup again. He has had hamstring issues for most of the season.

Mike Banner (pictured above) had a huge role in Chicago's win against the Rapids, supplying the game-tying goal and also playing some defense at left back. His versatile efforts have been necessary as the Fire are stretched thin on the back line.

D.C. (6-5-11, 29 points) has been hot and cold this season - frigid when it comes to its road performance (1-5-6). The offense has also come up blank of late, and if United loses Saturday, the team would post a winless MLS slate in August. The only victory so far is a non-MLS win in PKs over C.D. Luis Angel Firpo on Aug. 4 in CONCACAF Champions League play.

The Fire do welcome back midfielder John Thorrington, who missed the Rapids match, serving a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation.

Past records mean little in this long rivalry, and both East squads know the importance of this game. D.C. has a bit more at stake, trying to make its way back into the playoff picture. The Fire want to maintain their stance with a top-two playoff spot. The Fire are 1 point behind East-leading Columbus, which has played one fewer game than Chicago and takes on MLS's cellar dwellers, the New York Red Bulls, this Sunday.

Though a bit battered, the Fire clearly showed through last week's comeback that they can make up for the long trail of injuries and setbacks. Fire 1, D.C. United 0