Sporting Kansas City 1 - 2 Fire
Final
  for this game

Oduro nets late to help Chicago beat 10-man Sporting

May 13, 2012 - 2:45 AM Bridgeview, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Fire fell behind in the opening period but scored two second-half goals to pile more misery on 10-man Sporting Kansas City with a 2-1 victory at Toyota Park on Saturday.

Bobby Convey's 31st-minute strike saw Sporting grab the lead, but the home side was able to draw level after the restart thanks to a penalty kick from Sebastian Grazzini. Roger Espinoza was given his marching orders shortly after, giving the Fire the impetus to go on and eventually claim three points thanks to Dominic Oduro's 81st-minute goal.

Chicago (4-2-3) is unbeaten in its last three league games to improve to 15 points through nine games, while Sporting (7-3-0) has crumbled after a perfect start through seven games. Kansas City has lost three straight by a combined score of 5-1.

Sporting drew first blood just after the half-hour mark Saturday when Espinoza sent a low cross in front of goal as Bobby Convey redirected the ball past Sean Johnson at the far post.

The visitors maintained that lead until just after the hour mark when Aurelien Collin tripped up Oduro in the box. Referee Jose Carlos Rivero pointed to the spot and Grazzini calmly lifted the ensuing kick into the upper corner past a diving Jimmy Nielsen.

Things went from bad to worse for Sporting as Espinoza was sent off a minute later after driving his elbow into Grazzini's face while challenging for a loose ball in the air.

It took nearly 20 minutes, but the Fire ultimately took advantage of the extra man as Oduro bagged the game-winner nine minutes from time. Sporting failed to quickly clear their lines and Patrick Nyarko claimed possession in the penalty before sliding a pass inside the six-yard box. Oduro was on the spot to stuff home his fourth goal of the season.

Chicago hits the road after two consecutive home matches, heading to Jeld-Wen Field to face the Portland Timbers on May 20. Sporting returns to action next Saturday to face the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.






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