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Holfe helps keep Fire undefeated

Apr 30, 2007 - 2:50 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Chris Rolfe's dazzling dribbling helped the Chicago Fire stay undefeated.

Rolfe scored in the 60th minute on a spectacular individual effort and the Chicago Fire defeated the defending champion Houston Dynamo, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.

Taking a pass on the right side of the box, Rolfe dribbled around a defender, weaved through traffic and blasted a low liner from about 15 yards out that escaped a diving goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

"I kind of took (Wade) Barrett on and fortunately he kind of bit on my fake shot and kind of went down," Rolfe said. "He left me a little bit of room to work with and I didn't really hit it as well as I wanted to, but it went in."

Rolfe's goal helped the Fire win for the second straight time in Houston. Chicago also won by an identical 1-0 score in May 2006.

"We know coming in here it is never easy," Fire coach Dave Sarachan. "We put together what we thought was a good lineup and a game plan and our guys really competed from start to finish and we pulled out a great win."

The Fire are reaping the rewards of putting their trust in Rolfe and Chad Barrett. Chicago released its top two scores from a year ago, Andy Herron and Nate Jaqua, and decided to go with Barrett and Rolfe. So far the two have combined for four goals in the first three games.

Chicago, which has won three in a row to start the season, outshot Houston, 12-9, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.

After a scoreless first half, in which both teams looked uninspired, Chicago came out energized, and outshot Houston, 10-4, in the second half.

The Dynamo, who lost their second straight game and have scored only one goal this season, had a chance to get the equalizer on a free kick from 18 yards out in stoppage time, but Diego Gutierrez used a slide tackle to steal the ball and effectively end the game.

"I don't know if we could have done anything else but score a goal," Houston's Eddie Robinson said. "You know it's frustrating when you go out there and play that well and come up with nothing. Mostly, we were in their end and pressuring them and to still lose, 1-0, that is as frustrating as it gets."

Coming off a 1-0 loss to a 10-man New York Red Bulls team, Houston failed to take advantage of the eight corner kicks they earned.

Brian Ching nearly put the Dynamo ahead with what appeared to be a goal on a header in the 51st minute, but Houston defender Ryan Cochrane was whistled for a shove on goalkeeper Matt Pickens and it was disallowed.

"Anytime you lose it's disappointing," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "If you play well and lose, like we did tonight, or you play poorly and lose, the reaction is still the same. Our guys are a proud team and I am a proud coach of this team, so maybe this hurts a little bit more. I think we came out with the right attitude and played the right way, we just have to take advantage of some of those good plays."