Another point as Fire tie Crew
After a scoreless first half, Chris Rolfe scored his second goal of the season to give the Fire the lead just after the halftime break, but Sebastian Rozental equalized shortly afterward from the penalty spot for the Crew.
Although both teams hit the locker rooms at the half scoreless, it wasn't for lack of effort. In the first half of action, the Men in Red sent six shots in the direction of Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch, with one of those shots on goal. Likewise the Crew sent four shots in the direction of Chicago 'keeper Zach Thornton, one on target.
The Fire had the better of the early play and Chad Barrett had a couple of good chances early on. In the fifth minute he beat his defender down the left flank before sending a shot through the box that flashed across the front of goal. Just seconds later he again sent a shot in the direction of Busch, launching a blast from the right corner of the penalty area but missing wide left.
The Fire defense was first tested in the 16th minute as Diego Gutierrez handed the Crew a free kick 25 yards from the goal with a foul on Jacob Thomas. The free kick was taken by Rozental but sent back in the Fire's direction by the Crew defense. Danny Szetela caught the rebound, but lifted the ball well over the Fire goal and out of play.
The Fire nearly struck again in the 23rd minute as Thiago broke through, only for his shot to be saved by an outstretched Busch. The Crew countered quickly, Eddie Gaven playing a ball through to Szetela who took a shot from a tough angle at goal and missed near post.
The Crew again threatened in the 35th minute when Kei Kamara broke through the Fire defense after receiving a pass from Thomas. But after he skipped past Jim Curtin, C.J. Brown deflected away his last move.
The Fire were handed their best opportunity of the half in the 45th minute when Barrett stole the ball from Crew defender Chad Marshall right in front of the penalty area as the third-year center back trying to dribble away. Barrett's shot went under the outstretched Busch, but hit the face of the left upright before being cleared.
After the break, it didn't take long for the Fire to break the stalemate. Barrett collected a bouncing ball in midfield and was allowed to race unmolested up the center of the field. Near the penatly area he slid a through ball for Rolfe, and the second-year striker artfully placed the ball inside the far post with his left foot for the game's first goal.
But the Crew quickly responded. Kamara received a favorable call from referee Erich Simmons after falling to the turf in the Fire's penalty area when challenged from behind by Curtin, winning a penalty kick. Rozental sent the spot kick perfectly inside the left just out of Thornton's reach for the 55th-minute equalizer.
Both teams then came close to grabbing the go-ahead goal. After winning a free kick some 21 yards from goal, Ivan Guerrero sent his effort wide left in the 60th minute. Then, Kamara put a shot over the top of goal from close range just five minutes later.
In the 71st minute, Crew coach Sigi Schmid brought in Joel Kitamirike to replace an injured Danny Szetela, who had been nursing a stress fracture in his foot. Barely a minute after coming on, Kitamirike earned the game's first yellow card -- and it almost cost the home side.
The free kick was taken by Gutierrez which found its way through the Crew defensive wall and was knocked down by Busch. The Fire then squandered a few opportunities as the ball ricocheted dangerously around the penalty area before it was cleared.
Rolfe had one last chance in the 80th minute when his scalding shot on goal was saved in acrobatic fashion by Busch, keeping the score level. Then rookie Jason Garey had the game's final opportunity in stoppage time, but his shot was saved by Thornton to preserve the draw.
Ryan D. Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
