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L.A. makes Chicago pay for early misses

Apr 17, 2011 - 10:19 PM Bridgeview, IL (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Galaxy earned a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer action at Toyota Park on Sunday.

The Galaxy (3-1-3) got goals late in each half from Chad Barrett and Omar Gonzalez - both assisted by Miguel Lopez - to move into a tie at the top of the Western Conference table.

The Fire actually had a couple breakaways in the first half that they were unable to capitalize on before the Galaxy got the game's first goal.

The first was in the 18th minute Gaston Puerari outran a defender to a loose ball to get past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, but slotted the shot just wide of the right post.

The second occurred in the 29th minute when a Puerari pass sprung Gonzalo Segares in the Galaxy area with only Ricketts to beat, but his shot went wide right as well.

The Galaxy made the Fire (1-3-1) pay for the misses in the 42nd minute when a Lopez pass found striker Barrett in the center of the area. Barrett, a former Fire striker, blasted the shot past goalkeeper Jon Conway for his first goal of the season.

L.A. made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute when Omar Gonzalez skied to head home a Lopez corner for his first goal of the season.

Fire forward Dominic Oduro pulled on back in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late for the home side.

Chicago will aim to rebound vs. Houston next Saturday, while L.A. hosts Portland later the same night in its next MLS fixture.