FIRE 2, COLORADO RAPIDS 1

Chicago snaps 3-game skid, jumps up to 1st in the East

Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa and defender Wilman Conde provided more offense than the team had during its three-game losing streak as Chicago topped the Colorado Rapids, 2-1, on Saturday in Major League Soccer action at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

"The guys stuck together, played as a group, and when we do that we're a good team," Fire head coach Denis Hamlett said.

The win not only snapped a three-game skid for the Fire (6-3-6), but it put Chicago back at the top of the Eastern Conference with 24 points (D.C. also has 24, but through 17 games played). The victory also erased a nearly decade-long drought in Colorado - a dismal 0-6-4 mark in their previous 10 road matches against the Rapids.

Conversely, the Rapids (5-4-6) dropped their first home game of the season.

Chicago played a pretty much flawless first half of soccer, earning the 2-0 lead with Pappa's and Conde's goals in the 30th and 37th minutes, respectively, and holding the Rapids to zero shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.

Jacob Peterson finally broke through for Colorado in the 76th minute with an unassisted goal.

Chicago's defense clamped down on Rapids forward Conor Casey, who made a long-awaited return after playing in the FIFA Confederations Cup. Casey had only one shot on goal in the 76th minute, just before Peterson's tally.

Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch made three saves and the Rapids' Matt Pickens made one.

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Next up: The Fire host the defending champion Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Toyota Park. The game is televised on ESPN2.

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Fire notes:
• Libertyville native, University of Illinois-Chicago product and Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic earned the first assist of his MLS career with his center pass to Pappa for the team's 30th-minute goal.
• Fire defender Logan Pause is with the U.S. Men's National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He earned his first international cap and got the start during Saturday's 4-0 victory over Grenada in Seattle. Pause also assisted Robbie Rogers' 60th-minute goal that gave the U.S. a 3-0 lead.