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.

Fire in dire need of win vs. Toronto

Fire defender Dan Gargan -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire have reached a double-digit winless streak for a second time this season. They are in dire need of a positive outcome when they host Toronto FC on Sunday at Toyota Park.

The Fire are in the midst of a 0-3-7 stretch -- the longest winless streak since they posted a 0-4-7 record from April 9 through June 9. Chicago is coming off a 1-1 draw against D.C. United, establishing an MLS record with its 15th draw after conceding a second-half lead.

"We've got to keep coming back. I don't think it can get any lower than this," Fire defender Gonzalo Segares said. "We've just got to get up and keep pushing."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire overcome 2-goal deficit, tie Reds

Fire's Corben Bone -- Getty Images

The Chicago Fire have been kings of the draw of late, posting their fourth straight stalemate with a 2-2 decision against Toronto FC on Saturday at BMO Field.

While the Fire (1-3-5) are in the midst of a seven-game winless streak, Chicago had to feel positive with coming away with a road point. The Fire overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Reds (2-4-5).

Orr Barouch's first goal in the 76th minute gave Chicago the eventual draw, and Marco Pappa's free kick strike in the 64th minute swung the momentum in the Fire's favor.

Despite the big deficit, the Fire had a great chance to take the lead in the 83rd minute. Daniel Paladini tried to chip the ball over Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei, but Frei came up with a huge save with his left glove to preserve the draw.

Frei and Fire goalkeeper Jon Conway each had six saves on the night.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire battle Toronto at BMO

Fire's Gonzalo Segares -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire and Toronto FC have some similarities in that both sides underwent some significant turnaround heading into the year, and both are struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The Fire head to BMO Field this Saturday to take on the Reds, and both sides could use a lift.

Chicago (1-3-4) is in the midst of a 0-3-3 stretch and is winless since its home opener on March 26 against Sporting Kansas City. Toronto (2-4-4) did garner its second win on May 7 against Houston, but the squad is coming off a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on Wednesday.

The Reds have the home-field advantage in their corner this weekend. Toronto is a respectable 2-1-3 at BMO this season.

"We're definitely anticipating for them to come at us in the first couple of minutes, especially with the crowd -- it's always a hostile crowd," Fire defender and midfielder Gonzalo Segares said.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire suffer 'defensive meltdown'

The Chicago Fire looked out of sorts during their 4-1 loss to Toronto FC on Saturday at BMO Field as Chicago's three-game undefeated streak came to a close.

Toronto had a wind-aided strike in the first half, but the rest was entirely on the Fire's shoulders as Toronto's Chad Barrett tallied two goals against his former teammates.

The last time the Fire gave up four goals in league play was during a 4-1 home loss to FC Dallas on Sept. 21, 2008.

"It was a defensive meltdown," Fire defender C.J. Brown said. "I think the four guys in the back, we weren't sharp today. Just before the second half we thought putting a lot of pressure on them was going to be good for us, and it ended up biting us."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Preview: Fire at Toronto FC

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos had to move a few pieces around to find the appropriate starting group and formation early on this season. For Toronto FC head coach Preki, it was quite a different story for his most recent roster shuffling.

Last week against defending champion Real Salt Lake, Preki benched one of the league's top goal scorers in Dwayne De Rosario and designated player Julian de Guzman in a more defensive setup. It resulted in a 2-1 loss to RSL.

Preki has made some significant personnel moves this year, particularly with the look of his defensive back line. Toronto had a midweek match against USSF D-II's Montreal Impact, which is the only -- somewhat -- logical reasoning for not going with his top talent.

Don't expect Preki to sit De Rosario and de Guzman this Saturday when Chicago (2-2-2, 8 points) and Toronto (2-4-0, 6 points) square off at BMO Field for a 3 p.m. match.

For the full preview, visit ESPNChicago.com.

PREVIEW: TORONTO FC AT FIRE

The Chicago Fire are down to four regular-season games remaining, including two at home. The first of those two takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Toronto FC at Toyota Park (televised on My50).

Toronto (9-10-7, 34 points) still is working in its recent designated player signing (Julian de Guzman). Chicago's DP, however, could be absent with a hamstring injury. Cuauhtemoc Blanco will be a question mark for Chicago (10-6-10, 40 points), and with John Thorrington still out with a groin injury, the Fire's midfield will be hoping for the types of contributions that 23-year-old Peter Lowry (pictured) provided last week against the Columbus Crew.

Defensive outside back Gonzalo Segares was taken off the injury report, though a Saturday appearance could be rushing things a bit. Mike Banner, while a bit unconventional at left back, is holding his own.

Toronto boasts a pretty solid midfield group led by the dangerous Dwayne De Rosario, who has 10 goals this season. De Guzman's MLS impact remains to be seen solely for the fact that he has only played in one match and is quickly adapting to his team's tendencies. But with his international experience, de Guzman obviously is expected to be a big threat. Then you have Honduran international Amado Guevara, who leads Toronto with six assists and is behind De Rosario with five goals.

On May 16, the Fire topped the Reds, 2-0, at BMO Field with goals from second-half sub Chris Rolfe and Brian McBride, and three saves from Jon Busch for the clean sheet.

That match happened to be the last time McBride scored a goal, his league-leading sixth of the season. He went through a drought and then spent a couple months away from the team with a shoulder injury.

McBride still is trying to find his timing out there, and clearly Chicago needs him to be the main weapon who can either fight for some hard-nosed goals or draw defenders to set up the likes of Rolfe and Marco Pappa.

Toronto needs this game more than the Fire in terms of setting itself up for the postseason. But the scale is in Chicago's favor as the Fire appeared to have found some good form last week against the Eastern Conference-leading Crew, even though the match ended in a draw. Chicago Fire 2, Toronto FC 1

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• CLICK HERE for Examiner.com's Week 28 MLS preview, which includes a quick look at former Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton's rejuvenated campaign.