Behind a 14th-minute goal from Chris Rolfe, the Chicago Fire continued their postseason dominance over D.C. United and recorded a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series on MLS Primetime Thursday at Toyota Park.
Rolfe's goal, his first career postseason tally, gave the fourth-seeded Fire -- the last team to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs -- the advantage over the Supporters' Shield winners heading into next Thursday's second leg at RFK Stadium in the nation's capital.
The Fire also remained unbeaten all-time against United in the postseason, having won five of their six meetings with one tie. Chicago has never allowed a playoff goal to D.C., having outscored the four-time champions 11-0.
Even before the game started, Chicago found itself with a distinct advantage as United started the game with two of their top scorers on the bench because of injury. League-leading scorer Luciano Emilio and forward Jaime Moreno did not start due to ankle injuries they both suffered in their season finale contest against Columbus.
With a strong wind at their backs, the Fire quickly put United on the back foot, gaining two consecutive corner kick opportunities in the sixth minute. However, Chicago was unable to generate a shot on United goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
But Rolfe tested Perkins just a couple of minutes later. As he was fed with a pass from defender Gonzalo Segares, Rolfe reached inside the D.C. penalty area and settled the ball with a defender on him. He maintained possession, cutting to his right toward the center of the area before firing a rising shot that the 'keeper stretched to push over the crossbar.
After Diego Gutierrez received a yellow card in the 12th minute for a reckless foul from behind, Rolfe made D.C. pay. The Chicago defense was able to stop a D.C. penetration on the left and the ball was immediately returned high and far and fell just outside of the United area.
As the ball bounced high into the crisp Bridgeview air, United center back Greg Vanney tried to head back to Perkins. But Rolfe was able to race between Vanney and another teammate and get to the ball first on its return to the Toyota Park turf. Rolfe took possession and drilled a shot 15 yards inside the penalty area, beating Perkins high and inside the left post for the the 14th minute opener.
Chicago continued to attack nearly came up with a second just four minutes later. Cuauhtémoc Blanco took a pass outside the right corner of the area and quickly cut inside before firing a hooking left-footed shot that Perkins was able to dive to his right and deflect away.
Trying to find a way back into the game, going upwind and down a goal, United picked up its first yellow card of the contest when midfielder Brian Carroll was issued for a tackle from behind in the 22nd minute. It was also during that time span that Christian Gomez recorded the first shot on goal for D.C. but it was easily turned away by Chicago 'keeper Matt Pickens.
Chicago's defense continued to impress and Gutierrez did his part in the 32nd minute. With D.C. midfielder Ben Olsen penetrating inside the Fire penalty area, Gutierrez angled his run perfectly and was able to catch up with Olsen and slid to knock the ball away to end a possible scoring chance for United.
Chicago continued to try and press the advantage over the remainder of the half. Logan Pause and Segares each were able to get a shot off on Perkins in the 34th and 45th minutes respectively, but the United 'keeper handled both with ease.
Moreno made his first appearance of the game when he was put into the lineup in the second half by D.C. coach Tom Soehn, coming into the game for Guy-Roland Kpene at forward.
His entrance began to pay dividends, as United won a free kick in a dangerous position in the 49th minute. But Gomez saw his direct effort deflected by the wall of Fire defenders.
Another free kick came in the 56th minute, again taken by Gomez 30 yards directly in front of the Fire goal. However, this time his effort went bounding wide of the wall and to the left of the Chicago net.
As the Fire continued to settle into protecting their lead, United still tried to find a way through. Fred recorded his first shot of the contest when he settled 30 yards in front of the Chicago goal but the D.C. midfielder's shot sailed high over the Fire crossbar, leaving Pickens looking upward at the missed try in the 59th minute.
On a foul committed by Chicago defender Dasan Robinson, Gomez had another direct free opportunity 30 yards in front of the Fire net in the 63rd minute but it was once again deflected by a wall of Chicago defenders.
Chicago made its first substitution of the game when headmaster Juan Carlos Osorio replaced Chad Barrett with fellow forward Calen Carr in the 63rd minute.
D.C. continued to attack and had a great opportunity in the 67th minute. A cross came in from the left flank and Gomez was wide open in the center of the area, but he put his header right into Pickens' chest.
Carr nearly made his presence felt in the 69th minute. The speedy Fire forward raced onto a pass behind the United defense and Perkins came racing out of goal. As Perkins was coming to meet Carr, he chipped it over the United goalkeeper from the restraining arc but the ball drifted to the left of the D.C. goal.
Soehn brought Emilio into the contest in the 78th minute, replacing Carroll with the league's leading scorer hoping to break the Fire defense. Countering that, Osorio took Blanco out in the 85th minute. The Chicago coach replaced the popular midfielder with John Thorrington, who scored the winning goal against Los Angeles on Sunday.
Moreno did not help United late in the game as he was issued a yellow card in the 86th minute. But it was just another frustration on a night when the league's leading attack was shut down and lost for a second successive week, while the Fire continued to build on the eight-game unbeaten streak with which they ended the regular season.
Tim Hilton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
