Fire top RSL in California finale
Thiago, Robinson score in 2-1 victory
Both teams battled for possession for most of the half, until the Fire saw its first chance on goal. Second-year Fire forward Chris Rolfe collected the ball off a corner kick and back-heeled it, but the shot was saved by RSL 'keeper Scott Garlick in the 22nd minute. Just four minutes later, Rolfe had Chicago's second opportunity of the half, firing a shot from 30 yards out and forcing Garlick to come out and make a save in the 26th minute.
The Fire kept up the pressure and had its third opportunity in the space of five minutes when midfielder Justin Mapp fired a shot from 12 yards out that went wide right in the 27th minute. The intensity of Chicago was evident when defender Leonard Griffin picked up the lone yellow card of the match in the 29th minute after a hard tackle.
In the 30th minute RSL threatened to score after a combination of passes saw midfielder Douglas Sequeira send a ball through to a streaking Jamie Watson, who chipped the ball over Fire 'keeper Zach Thornton, but the ball hit the crossbar. It was RSL's fourth attempt on goal that would put it up 1-0 in the 42nd minute. RSL midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy received a pass and one-timed it across the field to Watson, who collected the pass and beat Chicago's backline. Watson fed the ball to Harris, who slid it into the net.
With one minute left, the Fire would tie the game off a penalty kick taken by Brazilian midfielder Thiago. The ball was served into the box from the right and it deflected around for a few seconds. The ball popped up into the air close to Harris who felt he was pushed into the ball forcing the referee to rule a hand ball. The final goal of the game would fall to Chicago in the 78th minute. Mexican trialist Gustavo Napoles deflected a ball and that landed at the feet of Dasan Robinson, and the Fire newcomer blasted home his close-range shot, helping the Fire to its sixth win this preseason.
Scoring Summary:
RSL - Atiba Harris (Jamie Watson) 42'
CHI - Thiago (PK) 44'
CHI - Dasan Robinson (Gustavo Napoles) 78'
Fire Lineup (3-5-2): Zach Thornton (Matt Pickens 46), C.J. Brown (Dasan Robinson 46), Jim Curtin (Jeff Curtin 46), Leonard Griffin (Jack Stewart 46), Logan Pause (Floyd Franks 46), Diego Gutierrez (Brian Plotkin 46), Justin Mapp (John Thorrington 46), Ivan Guerrero (Jordan Russolillo 46), Thiago (Gustavo Napoles 46), Chris Carr (Aiden Nurse 46), Chris Rolfe (Chad Barrett 46).
Real Salt Lake - Scott Garlick (Jay Nolly, 46); Chris Brown (Gustavo Cabrera, 46), Nelson Akwari (Cameron Knowles, 46), Carey Talley (Nikolas Besagno, 46), Danny Torres (Willis Forko, 46); Chris Klein (Kevin Novak, 46), Douglas Sequeira (Kenny Cutler, 46), Andy Williams (Christian Jimenez), Mehdi Ballouchy (Joey Worthen, 46); Jamie Watson (Adam Acosta, 46), Atiba Harris (Ryan Johnson, 46).
2006 Chicago Fire Preseason Results
| Date(s) | Event | Location | Result/Time | Record |
| Feb. 7 | Exhibition vs. U.S. U-17 national team | IMG Academy | W 4-0 | 1-0-0 |
| Feb. 11 | Exhibition vs. USASA Select Team | IMG Academy | W 2-0 | 2-0-0 |
| Feb. 11 | Exhibition vs. Central Florida University | IMG Academy | T 1-1 | 2-0-1 |
| Feb. 13 | Exhibition vs. Trinidad & Tobago U-21 national team | IMG Academy | W 1-0 | 3-0-1 |
| Feb. 16 | Exhibition vs. Columbus Crew | IMG Academy | W 3-1 | 4-0-1 |
| Feb. 23 | CD Guadalajara | Verde Valle Training Center - Zapopan, Mexico | L 0-4 | 4-1-1 |
| Feb. 25 | Guadalajara All-Stars | Universidad de Guadalajara - Guadalajara, Mexico | T 0-0 | 4-1-2 |
| Feb. 28 | Exhibition vs. Tecos | Sayula, Mexico | T 0-0 | 4-1-3 |
| Mar. 2 | Exhibition vs. Atlas | Atlas Colomos - Guadalajara, Mexico | T 2-2 | 4-1-4 |
| Mar. 8 | Exhibition vs. MetroStars | The Home Depot Center | W 3-0 | 5-1-4 |
| Mar. 11: | Exhibition vs. Chivas USA | The Home Depot Center | L 3-0 | 5-2-4 |
| Mar. 16: | Exhibition vs. Real Salt Lake | The Home Depot Center | W 2-1 | 6-2-4 |
