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Pappa, John lead Fire to 3-2 win over Galaxy

Aug 2, 2010 - 3:15 AM CARSON, Calif.(AP) -- Marco Pappa and Collins John scored about a minute apart early in the first half to lead the Chicago Fire to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday night.

Mike Banner also scored for the Fire (5-5-5), which won its second consecutive game after losing five straight in all competitions. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson made four saves for his first Major League Soccer victory in his first start.

"We're just a lot more confident," Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic said of his team's recent improvement. "We're a lot sharper and a lot more disciplined."

Johnson added: "We're finishing our chances and eliminating our mistakes. It's massive for us."

Landon Donovan scored both goals for the Galaxy (12-3-4), which lost its first home league game and is 1-4-1 in its past six games. Donovan's first goal was the 100th of his MLS career.

"Our execution was poor," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "It could be complacency. I think that's been the case with a number of players when they look at the league standings and see that we're out in front."

Pappa gave Chicago a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute with a 13-yard shot inside the left post for his seventh goal.

John followed one minute later by firing a 6-yard shot between goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and the right post after making a solo run along the right flank.

"We have to address the first 10 minutes of games," Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter said. "We're not relaxed and doing our jobs. We're thinking too much, maybe. We're a little bit tense, maybe."

Banner made it 3-0 in the 19th minute with his first of the season. Ricketts dove to deflect Pappa's 19-yard line drive with his left hand but Banner volleyed the rebound from seven yards.

"We came out firing where we usually come out slow," Johnson said. "Coming at a team aggressively and not sitting back has helped us for the past couple of games."

Donovan converted penalty kicks in the 37th and 81st minutes for his fourth and fifth goals and tied Taylor Twellman for fifth place in MLS career goal-scoring with 101.

"We should have been scoring goals off the run of play," Arena said. "We could've scored five goals. There was failure on both ends of the field, no question about it."

Johnson kept Los Angeles from scoring the tying goal in the 85th minute when he dove to his right to block Alan Gordon's 10-yard header with his right hand.

"I couldn't aske for more," Johnson said of his first MLS start. "I tried to keep myself calm going into it. I didn't really have time to be nervous. I had to made a save early and I think that was good for me to get a touch on the ball."

The Fire's Freddie Ljungberg, acquired from Seattle on July 30, made his team debut when he replaced Pappa in the 58th minute. Nery Castillo, whom the Fire signed Aug. 1, did not make the trip.