Oduro is ESPN Chicago's Fire MVP

Fire's Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Houston Dynamo thought that Dominic Oduro was so much of a liability after missing a sitter in the season opener that they immediately cast him off to the Chicago Fire, trading him for Calen Carr.

Houston's misstep was Chicago's offensive answer, particularly in the final two thirds of the season, as Oduro received ESPN Chicago's vote for being the team's most valuable player in 2011.

Oduro netted 12 goals, becoming the first Fire player since Damani Ralph in 2004 to reach double-digit tallies in a season. That number more than doubled Oduro's previous-best five goals in 2008 with FC Dallas and last year with the Dynamo. And that goal production tied him for fifth among the league leaders.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Oduro, Fire rally to draw Dynamo

Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas certainly was not conceding Saturday's game against the Houston Dynamo. But with Tuesday's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Seattle Sounders FC and a recent 3-0 win at Real Salt Lake three days prior, Klopas decided to put several of Chicago's key cogs on the bench to start out.

One regular starter who got the call to start Saturday was Fire forward Dominic Oduro. Oduro netted a first-half goal against his former Dynamo team as Chicago rallied from a deficit to draw Houston, 1-1, at Robertson Stadium.

Oduro was traded to Chicago for Calen Carr at the start of the season after missing a sitter during the Dynamo's opening match. Now, Oduro is leading the Fire with 12 goals and is in the running for the league's Golden Boot.

"It was good to be back in Houston," Oduro said. "Playing on the other side was a little bit different. At the end of the day, I think the fans appreciated me playing for them and I thank them."

Oduro's day was cut short as he limped off the field with an ankle injury and was replaced by Patrick Nyarko in the 51st minute for precautionary reasons.

"It was just a little bit sore when I made contact in the box," Oduro said. "I should be OK for Tuesday."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Early surge helps Fire edge Revs

Sebastian Grazzini (center)
-- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire made an early push on the offensive end, and they needed every goal to overcome a late lapse on the defensive end against the New England Revolution on Sunday. Chicago tallied three first-half goals and edged the Revs, 3-2, in front of 14,576 at Toyota Park.

Fire midfielder Sebastian Grazzini had a goal and an assist before leaving the match in the 25th minute because of left hamstring tightness. Dominic Oduro netted his team-leading 11th goal, and Patrick Nyarko's first goal of the season proved to be the game-winner as the Fire took a 3-0 lead into halftime.

It was a much needed victory for Chicago in order to stay within reach of the bottom of the wild card pack. The New York Red Bulls moved back into the final wild card position on Saturday with 39 points after posting a 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers.

"There was a lot on the line -- do or die, I think, for both clubs," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said. "We came out and we had a very good start to the game."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire's Grazzini, Oduro to miss friendly

Sebastian Grazzini -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire more or less are approaching Wednesday's international friendly against Chivas de Guadalajara as a high-profile training session. Midweek typically marks Chicago's hardest training to prepare for a weekend match, and Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas plans to use his lineup significantly when it hosts Chivas at Toyota Park.

"You get better by playing," Klopas said. "You can do certain things out here [in training]. The stuff we want to do out here, it's better to be doing against a very good opponent."

There will be plenty of caution thrown into this match. Fire forward Dominic Oduro hurt his ankle during the Fire's 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, and Sebastian Grazzini's hamstring still is tight, Klopas said.

"I don't see them playing," Klopas said.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire reach U.S. Open Cup final

Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- It was not the smoothest of performances for the Chicago Fire. But the home side did its job on Tuesday in topping the USL Pro's Richmond Kickers, 2-1, in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Toyota Park.

"It was a scrappy one, but we got it done," Fire defender Jalil Anibaba said.

Sebastian Grazzini netted a first-half penalty-kick goal and Dominic Oduro tallied a second-half game-winner as Chicago advanced to its sixth Open Cup final appearance. The Fire have won the Open Cup four previous times (1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006) and were the runners-up in 2004.

"Opportunities like this, you can't let them slip away," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said. "It was a special moment for the team, for our fans obviously, to put ourselves in this situation now in the final, to have an opportunity to win something. We knew what was at stake.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire blank Rapids for 2nd straight win

Fire's Gonzalo Segares -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Don't look now, but the Chicago Fire have put together a stretch of victories.

Dominic Oduro and Cory Gibbs each netted a goal and Chicago topped the Colorado Rapids, 2-0, on Saturday in front of 15,211 at Toyota Park.

It marked the first set of back-to-back wins for the Fire (4-7-15, 27 points) since the 2010 season, when they topped D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo on April 17 and 24, respectively.

While the Fire are building some needed momentum, the team knows it has to make up for some lost ground in getting back into the playoff picture.

"It's one game," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said. "The guys are not satisfied. We're not satisfied. This is behind us. We have to look at this match and look at the good things and what we have to improve."

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.

Nyarko, Oduro typify Man U fandom

Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko and forward Dominic Oduro exemplify the type of international draw that Manchester United has.

The Ghanaian duo has followed Man U's brand of soccer since they were kids. And like tens of millions of other Red Devils fans, they have appreciated everything from afar. That changes when the Fire face the defending Premier League champs at 4 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field (ESPN2) as part of the World Football Challenge.

"I've never been to Old Trafford," Oduro said. "I've only seen them on TV, but I've enjoyed it a lot. For me to be on the field with them, this is just going to be a dream come true. It's an amazing feeling. ... Hopefully I can score a goal against them."

"My family was in tune with the Premiership, and I picked Man United," Nyarko said. "I couldn't tell you why to this day. At some point I just picked them. Most of it was just the sake of argument at school, so we would talk about the passion of foreign teams in the EPL. I watch every single game that I can. They're an amazing team."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Ghanaian Oduro finds 'mojo' with Fire

Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- There is no dispute that Ghanaian forward Dominic Oduro is currently the Chicago Fire's hottest offensive threat.

While Chicago has struggled in the scoring column, Oduro has netted four of his five goals over the Fire's past nine matches (Chicago only has seven goals during this stretch). Oduro is tied for the team scoring lead with midfielder Marco Pappa, and Oduro's goal total also equals a season high.

But there lies a dichotomy in that Oduro's scoring rate could -- or should -- be better. Oduro tallied Chicago's lone goal during a 1-1 road draw against Chivas USA last weekend. But Oduro created multiple chances during the first half where he could have added to the Fire's early lead.

"I will guarantee that I'm going to get chances and try as much as possible to get the ball on frame," Oduro said. "It's better for me to get the ball in the right spot, or hopefully for a rebound for one of our midfielders to get the ball into the net. I was beating myself up about that [after the Chivas game]."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Pattern stays same, Fire draw Chivas

Jalil Anibaba -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Two-thirds of the Chicago Fire's matches this season have resulted in a draw. So it almost comes without surprise that Chicago netted its fourth straight stalemate against Chivas USA on Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Perhaps the only variations that the Fire are putting together this year are the types of the draws -- lost leads such as Saturday, a comeback such as the New York Red Bulls, or a scoreless draw, which has occurred on four occasions.

The Fire's 12th draw puts them two shy of tying FC Dallas' record mark of 14. If Chicago (2-4-12) had some victories to show for its efforts, the tone of this pattern might be different. As it stands, though, the draws are a continual sign of mediocrity on the scoreboard and in the Eastern Conference standings.

"Eight games without a defeat, but at the same time we're not winning," Fire forward Dominic Oduro said. "That's something that we have to flip over and try to win games. We're doing well, we're creating chances. But at the same time we have to finish our games."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Lone 'D' mistake costs Fire in draw

Fire celebrate lone goal -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire defense has been in top form under interim head coach Frank Klopas, posting three straight shutouts under his tenure. But one slightly delayed push by the defensive back line allowed the New England Revolution a game-tying goal, as Chicago played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

The Fire's Dominic Oduro tallied Chicago's lone goal in the 32nd minute for a 1-0 lead. But early in the second half, Revs forward Rajko Lekic leveled the match at 1-1.

Chicago's defensive back line attempted to put Lekic in an offside position, but veteran defenders Cory Gibbs and Gonzalo Segares were a shade late in stepping up -- replays showed that Lekic stayed onside. New England's Pat Phelan had the service to Lekic, and Lekic placed his shot inside the right post to tie the score.

It was the only major mistake from Chicago (2-4-9), which had the lead and was in position for a second straight win against an Eastern Conference foe.

"We're definitely frustrated because we managed the game well," Segares said. "We had plenty of chances, and I think that's what makes this hurt a little bit more."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire draw, but winless streak hits 9

Gaston Puerari -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire's seemingly endless winless streak continued to press on, but things could have been much worse.

Fire defender Cory Gibbs' 80th-minute header salvaged a 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday in front of 11,926 at Toyota Park. But Chicago's winless streak reached nine games, posting a 0-4-5 record during that stretch, while posting a 1-4-6 record overall.

"Right now we're not getting results," Fire captain Logan Pause said. "Listen, let's behonest, one win out of 11 is not good enough, and we know that."

Gibbs' diving header struck just inside the near right post to equalize the match. Baggio Husidic sent the ball in from the right side, and Gibbs dove straight forward. Former Fire and current Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch was trying to cover the near right post, but he could not get there in time. Gibbs ripped off his shirt in celebration, taking a yellow card in the process.

Dominic Oduro also scored for the Fire, posting the 100th regular-season goal in team history.

Both Fire goals came after Chicago fell behind on two different occasions in the second half. Ramiro Corrales and Chris Wondolowski netted goals to garner 1-0 and 2-1 leads, respectively, for the Quakes.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire drop 3rd straight to depleted L.A.

Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy was without its star power Sunday, but the struggling Chicago Fire could not withstand the rest of L.A.'s depleted roster as Chicago dropped its third straight, 2-1, in front of 18,203 at Toyota Park.

Former Fire forward Chad Barrett and Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez provided the Galaxy's scoring as L.A. earned a victory without Landon Donovan (knee inflammation), David Beckham (suspended), Juninho (suspended) and Jovan Kirovski (suspended).

Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos adjusted a couple of things defensively with the addition of 33-year-old goalkeeper Jon Conway for second-year goalkeeper Sean Johnson, and center defensive back Josip Mikulic returned to the fray in place of Dasan Robinson.

But the defensive lapses continued, particularly on Barrett's goal in the 42nd minute. He was left all alone in the middle of the Fire's defense.

"Those little breakdowns that we've been having defensively have been hurting us a lot," Fire midfielder and defender Gonzalo Segares said. "That definitely brought the momentum down."

The Fire (1-3-1) found some late life as second-half substitution Dominic Oduro beat Gonzalez one-on-one at a difficult angle from the right side and slotted the ball past Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to cut L.A.'s lead to 2-1.

Chicago created a couple more chances, including two sequences when Conway left his goal and went into the offensive third. Shortly into stoppage time, Conway pushed up on a Marco Pappa corner kick, and Ricketts had a huge opportunity to punt the ball toward the empty net. Instead, Ricketts was too busy directing things with his teammates, and Conway eventually trudged back into the net.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire add Oduro, Cuesta, trade Carr

Former Fire forward Calen Carr -- ISI Photos

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire added some new pieces to the puzzle on Wednesday with the acquisition of forward Dominic Oduro and Colombian defender Yamith Cuesta.

The Fire sent a 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft selection to Chivas USA for Cuesta's rights. And Chicago sent forward Calen Carr, a 2006 draft pick who spent his first five MLS seasons with the Fire, to the Houston Dynamo for the 25-year-old Oduro. Carr missed last weekend's 1-1 draw against FC Dallas because of a concussion.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.