Fire 1 - 0 Crew
Final
  for this game

Chicago takes 11-game winless streak to Columbus

Jun 11, 2011 - 12:47 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Chicago Fire interim manager Frank Klopas did his best to remain positive after the club's winless run stretched to 11 games Thursday.

Considering his club earned a draw on the road, in the first-ever Major League Soccer match at $200 million Livestrong Sporting Park, the result alone was an excellent sign for the struggling Fire.

But a deeper look inside the 0-0 draw at Sporting Kansas City reveals a bigger problem, as Chicago played the final 30 minutes of the match with an extra man after K.C. goalie Jimmy Nielsen was sent off.

When you haven't won since the second week of the season in April, Klopas does need to look for any positive he can find, however. Especially with a visit to Columbus to face the Crew on Sunday giving the club no chance to rest.

"To get a point in a place like (Kansas City) on the road is very good," said Klopas on the MLS website. "We just got to keep building on that."

Building on that is what's the most important for Chicago and Klopas, who took over the coaching duties from former manager Carlos de los Cobos two weeks ago and has earned scoreless draws in his first two matches.

Now Chicago (1-4-8) needs a bigger breakthrough, and Columbus (4-3-5) could be primed for an upset after the Crew posted a huge win over Real Salt Lake, 2-1, on Wednesday.

The Fire have tied seven of their last eight during the winless streak and may might just need a lucky bounce to end their woes.

Columbus snapped a five-game skid that included three ties against Real, as it scored twice after the 75th minute to rally for the win. Andres Mendoza scored on a penalty kick in the 76th and Josh Gardner had the winner in the 82nd.

The Crew allowed the first goal for the sixth straight match, but earned draws in three of those and the win over Real proved Robert Warzycha's club could be a team to contend with in the Eastern Conference again this season.

"It was about time we got the extra goal. Whether it was against Seattle (May 7) or Chivas (May 28) or (against Real), we created enough chances to come out on top, but the ball somehow didn't want to go in the back of the net," said Warzycha

"In the end we pushed for a goal and we got rewarded."






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