D.C. United 3 - 3 Fire
Final
  for this game

Fire welcome DCU to Toyota Park

Sep 19, 2014 - 11:00 PM Bridgeview, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of teams at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference table will square off on Saturday as D.C. United travels to Toyota Park to face the Chicago Fire.

East-leading United come into the match having not scored a goal in their previous two matches, most recently a last-gasp 1-0 loss to Red Bull New York, but Ben Olsen's side still leads the East by two points over Sporting Kansas City.

United had the better of the play early on against New York on Sept 10., but were dealt a difficult hand in the 32nd minute when forward Fabian Espindola was sent off for a high challenge on Dax McCarty.

United held out for a draw until stoppage time, but the winning goal finally came when a Jamison Olave pass deflected off Thierry Henry and fell to Lloyd Sam on the right side of the area, and he pushed the ball forward and slipped it inside the near post past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

The defeat marked the third time this season that United has been blanked in consecutive games.

"It's tough to play against a team with such star power coming at you, but the guys stayed organized, they won their 1-v-1 battles, won their battles in the air, and they covered each other," said Hamid. "Its unfortunate that they nipped a goal in the end, but the effort by these guys today was just absolutely amazing. To hold a team with so much star-power to zero until the last minute, I tip my hats to my teammates."

"I'm disappointed for them, again because of the call, and I'm disappointed that they couldn't get something from what was a hell of an effort from the guys.," Olsen said.

Chicago earned yet another draw last time out, coming away with a point in a 1-1 result against Toronto FC to leave the club in ninth place in the East with 30 points.

The Fire took the lead in the 11th minute as Lovel Palmer escaped his mark to meet Sanna Nyassi's short corner from the left and deftly directed his near- post header past TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik.

But the Fire couldn't hold the lead as Toronto FC hit for the equalizer when substitute Dwayne De Rosario slotted home from close range on a corner kick.

After the match, Fire head coach Frank Yallop didn't mince words about his team's performance.

"I never make excuses and I never hide behind anything. We're not quite good enough," Yallop said. "Another tie is not great for us. Usually you find ways to lose matches as a group, and a lot of coaches have said that, but we find ways to tie matches when we should be winning them. It's frustrating, but it's where we're at."

The clubs last met back on March 29 at RFK Stadium and battled to a 2-2 draw.






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