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Sinama-Pongolle leaves it late as Fire down Dynamo

Oct 25, 2014 - 2:19 AM Bridgeview, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Florent Sinama-Pongolle scored in stoppage time to lift the Chicago Fire to a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Park on Friday in the season finale for both sides.

Omar Cummings put Houston on top in the 18th minute, but after Jeff Larentowicz converted a second-half penalty kick to level the match, Sinama- Pongolle popped up to score his first goal of the campaign, sending the Fire out on a winning note.

Friday's game also marked the final match in charge for Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear, who will take over the San Jose Earthquakes next season after leading the Dynamo since 2006.

Cummings was denied by a fine stop from Sean Johnson in the 10th minute, but the Fire netminder was unable to keep out his header eight minutes later as the forward redirected a corner kick from Brad Davis inside the far post.

Houston nearly made it 2-0 when Boniek Garcia hit the post following a scramble in front of the Chicago net, but the Dynamo only led 1-0 at the break.

Substitute Grant Ward made an impact in the second half as he earned a penalty kick after being brought down by Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric, which allowed Larentowicz to level the contest from the spot.

And after Chris Ritter volleyed a ball off the crossbar in the 88th minute for Chicago, Ward played provider on the winning goal as his cross was turned inside the near post by the head of Sinama-Pongolle.