Gargan among Fire's unprotected list

Dan Gargan -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire and other Major League Soccer teams submitted their 11-player protected lists Monday in preparation for Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft for the Montreal Impact.

Among some of the Fire's noteworthy players left unprotected are forward Diego Chaves, midfielder Daniel Paladini, and defenders Dan Gargan, Josip Mikulic and Yamith Cuesta.

Fire's 11-player protected list: Sean Johnson (GK), Cory Gibbs (D), Jalil Anibaba (D), Gonzalo Segares (D), Pavel Pardo (M), Logan Pause (M), Marco Pappa (M), Sebastian Grazzini (M), Orr Barouch (F), Patrick Nyarko (F/M), Dominic Oduro (F)

Unprotected list (available for Impact selection): Jon Conway (GK), Alec Dufty (GK), Yamith Cuesta (D), Dan Gargan (D), Steven Kinney (D), Josip Mikulic (D), Pari Pantazopoulos (D), Mike Banner (M), Michael Videira (M), Daniel Paladini M), Baggio Husidic (M), Cristian Nazarit (F), Gabriel Ferrari (F), Diego Chaves (F)

Exempt from selection (Generation adidas or homegrown status): Corben Bone (M), Kellen Gulley (F), Victor Pineda (M)

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire try to stay hot at Houston

Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire do not have any time to savor one of their biggest victories of the season at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Chicago heads into Saturday three points behind the New York Red Bulls, who currently hold the final wild card spot with 39 points. With only four regular-season games remaining, the Fire can potentially eliminate the gap behind New York when they face the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium.

Chicago interim head coach Frank Klopas's squad is in the midst of a three-game stretch in seven days. On Tuesday, the Fire head to CenturyLink Field to take on the Seattle Sounders in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.

"Unfortunately we don't have the luxury of games that aren't important," Fire defender Dan Gargan said. "All of these games are massive for us. Frank knows that, and he's doing the best to put out a good side each time we're out there."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Pappa nets hat trick, Fire topple RSL

Marco Pappa -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire garnered a signature win when they absolutely needed it. And most importantly for Chicago, the team now finds itself in a realistic position to catch a playoff spot with only four regular-season matches remaining.

The Fire won for the fifth time in their past six matches and were led by midfielder Marco Pappa's hat trick en route to a 3-0 victory against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in front of 20,762 at Sandy, Utah.

Pappa had been in a significant scoring funk, having failed to find the back of the net since June 26 against the New York Red Bulls.

Now Chicago (7-8-15, 36 points) is within three points of those Red Bulls, who currently hold the final wild card position with 39 points.

"That was great to see," Fire defender Dan Gargan said of Pappa's performance. "He's a player that we need, and when he's sticking the ball into the back of the net, that's phenomenal for us because that's just another weapon that we have. It's been coming. He comes to training every day and puts in extra sessions. He's such a talented player."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire defender Gargan creating buzz

Fire's Dan Gargan -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Defender Dan Gargan was a bit of a mystery man when he was traded to the Chicago Fire from Toronto FC on July 28.

Chicago appeared to have its defensive group set in stone. Rookie Jalil Anibaba and team captain Logan Pause manned the right back position, and Gonzalo Segares has been the season-long fixture at left back. So it was unknown as to what extent Gargan's immediate impact would be.

Some could argue that when the Fire sent Dasan Robinson to Toronto, the inclusion of Toronto's 2012 second-round draft pick looked like the most enticing part of the entire deal. But Toronto's loss already has become Chicago's gain.

Gargan has started at right back during the Fire's past three matches, posting a 1-0-2 record. Gargan also tallied a goal against his former Toronto squad on Sunday en route to a much-needed 2-0 Fire win.

It was an uplifting moment for the Fire, who earned only their third victory of the season.

"The moment was definitely heightened because of the [winless] run we've been on," Gargan said. "That goal took a little bit of the pressure off of us to win. That's definitely the most important -- getting those three points and hopefully getting us on the right side toward winning games for a little run that we need to go on."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire garner long-awaited win

Fire defender Dan Gargan (C) congratulated
by Logan Pause (R) and Marco Pappa (L)
-- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Toyota Park scoreboard was not a mirage.

The Chicago Fire finally found the win column for the first time in more than two months as they defeated Toronto FC, 2-0, on Sunday in front of 12,020 at Toyota Park.

Fire forward Dominic Oduro netted a 16th-minute goal, and defender Dan Gargan headed home a goal against his former Toronto team in the 69th minute to garner a long-awaited win for Chicago.

"It was huge. We needed it for team morale," Fire defender Cory Gibbs said. "We knew every week we've been playing well during that stretch and needed to get over that hump. Our perseverance is there. We pushed and we got the win. We needed it."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Bradley out; Fire trade Robinson

Bob Bradley -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Former Chicago Fire head coach Bob Bradley's tenure as the U.S. National Team head coach has ended. U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that he has been relieved of his duties for the national squad.

"I was shocked, just like you and most people were," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said Thursday after the team's training. "I was on a flight back and someone told me at training. Obviously I have tremendous respect for Bob. He coached me here for two years -- very memorable years. And I was on the staff with him for a year. So to tell you the truth, I'm shocked."

Also on Thursday, the Fire traded defender Dasan Robinson to Toronto FC on Thursday in exchange for defender Dan Gargan and Toronto's 2012 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection.

"We had an opportunity to acquire another defender and provide depth for our club," Toronto head coach Aron Winter said on the team's official web site. "... Dasan brings us depth and versatility because he can play central defense or right back."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.