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McBride lifts Fire into 2-2 tie with Rapids

Apr 4, 2010 - 1:48 AM COMMERCE CITY, Colo.(AP) -- Brian McBride scored the tying goal off a penalty kick early in the second half and the Chicago Fire salvaged a 2-2 tie with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

McBride's former Fulham teammate Collins John also scored for the Fire (0-1-1) and Marco Pappa had an assist. Chicago has won once in its last 11 matches at Colorado.

Omar Cummings and Conor Casey had goals for Colorado (1-0-1), which had its 15th home opener in Denver. Cummings has goals in each game this year and has four in three starts against the Fire.

McBride beat goalkeeper Matt Pickens to his left side in the 51st minute after Patrick Nyarko was hauled down along the end line six minutes into the second half by Marvell Wynne.

"You know how fast Marvell is," Nyarko said. "I got into fifth gear and just went past him."

Colorado coach Gary Smith thought Wynne was too aggressive on what proved to be the decisive play.

"If he cuts off the goal and makes the wide play, I'm not sure he takes him on," Smith said. "But by being aggressive with that run, he says to him, look, shove beyond me and we'll have a race."

On Colorado's first goal, Mehdi Ballouchy set up Cummings 30 yards out in the center of the field. Cummings didn't hesitate and sent a low drive past goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra's left hand in the 13th minute.

Ballouchy nearly made it a two-goal lead, but his shot brushed the left post. McBride later had a chance to tie the game for Chicago, but double clutched and had his shot deflected out of the way in the 23rd minute.

The Fire tied the game on John's header from just outside the crease in the 26th minute. The goal was set up by a corner kick by Marco Pappa.

The Rapids regained the lead on Casey's penalty kick in the 40th minute. Casey faked Dykstra left and pushed the ball to the right.

"They have two very good players with different styles," Chicago coach Carlos de los Cobos said of Cummings and Casey. "We gave them space and too much time to think in the first half. I think we improved in the second half."

After McBride's penalty, neither team really had a scoring chance over the next 30 minutes. Casey broke free, but his partially deflected shot was smothered by Dykstra.