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Toronto FC-Fire Preview

Sep 25, 2009 - 5:54 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Toronto FC (9-10-7) at Chicago (10-6-10), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Fire haven't enjoyed much of a home-field advantage.

Toronto FC, meanwhile, hasn't scored a goal on the road in eight weeks.

Chicago's effort to get to the top of the Eastern Conference continues Saturday night when Toronto visits Toyota Park.

With an opportunity to tie Columbus atop the East, the Fire (10-6-10) failed to earn three points Sunday despite midfielder Peter Lowry giving them a two-goal lead in the opening 35 minutes against the visiting Crew.

Chicago gave up two second-half goals to reigning league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto and settled for a 2-all draw. The Fire remain three points back of the defending MLS Cup champions and four ahead of D.C. United for second in the East.

"It feels like a loss," Lowry said. "We did enough to win the game."

The Fire, 1-2-1 in their last four at Toyota Park, have scored an MLS-low 13 goals at home this season. They're one of only three teams in the league that doesn't have a winning home record (4-4-5).

Chicago has allowed 15 goals at home - tied for second-most in the conference - but it takes on a Toronto FC club that hasn't scored in its last 416 minutes on the road.

Toronto (9-10-7) has been shut out in four consecutive road games (0-3-1) since midfielder Dwayne De Rosario found the back of the net against New England in a 1-all draw Aug. 1. Coming off a 2-0 loss at Los Angeles last Saturday, TFC is tied with the Revolution for fourth in the East.

"We know we have to start picking up wins on the road," said TFC interim coach Chris Cummins, whose club is 2-7-4 away from home. "We know we need at least three wins (the rest of the season) ... it's up to us to go in there and perform for 90 minutes."

Toronto is 0-1-1 at Toyota Park, most recently a 2-1 loss July 12, 2008. Forward Chad Barrett had an assist for the Fire in that matchup but later that month, he was traded to Toronto along with a first-round draft pick for the rights to Brian McBride.

Saturday will be Barrett's first match in Chicago since the deal.

"There's four games left in the season and we have to win them all," Barrett said. "I have to put all personal stuff aside and do everything I can to help the team win.

"I hope (Brian) doesn't play well against us, but I know he's a great player."

Playing in his second match since missing eight due to right shoulder surgery in July, McBride had an assist Sunday - his first point since an assist versus New York on May 24.

McBride and Chris Rolfe scored for the Fire in a 2-0 win at Toronto on May 16.

Chicago will likely get back defender Gonzalo Segares on Saturday following an MCL sprain that kept him sidelined since Aug. 8, but forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco is out against Toronto. Blanco, tied for third in MLS with eight assists, strained his left hamstring against Columbus.

Fire coach Denis Hamlett is expected to replace Blanco with Patrick Nyarko or Rolfe.