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Rolfe helps Fire take first leg vs. United

Oct 26, 2007 - 4:19 AM BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois (Ticker) -- Chris Rolfe's first career playoff goal helped the fourth-seeded Chicago Fire post a 1-0 victory over top-seeded D.C. United in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday.

"We are very pleased with the effort and the result," Fire coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "Now we go on to D.C. and hopefully we will get the result we want there too."

Goalie Matt Pickens was barely tested, stopping two shots for Chicago, which posted its first victory over D.C. United in four tries this season.

"They are a good attacking team," Osorio said. "We found that out all season long. Tonight, we needed to finish our chances against them and we finished one, that turned out to be enough."

Despite the win, Rolfe and his teammates still have more work ahead of them. The teams played the second leg on November 1.

"Having a week until the next game will be good for us," Rolfe said. "It will give us time to rejuvenate and be prepared for what will be a tough match in D.C.. We know they will come after us."

Rolfe scored the decisive goal just 14 minutes into the contest, thanks to a defensive lapse by D.C. United.

A long ball was sent to midfield, where two D.C. United defenders failed to gain control. The ball bounced back toward the D.C. half of the field. Rolfe gained control and blasted a shot from just in front of the box that soared into the left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

"The ball took a high bounce and just came to me," Rolfe said. "Once I broke through them (three defenders), I knew where I was going to shoot. It was left side all the way."

The outcome may have been different if D.C. United had the luxury of having its two star players start the game.

Strikers Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio both suffered ankle injuries in Saturday's season finale against Columbus and did not enter the game until late in the second half.

"We knew we could not run them very long," United coach Tom Soehn said. "The important thing is that they both played and came out of the game healthy, they will be ready for our game next week."

Troy Perkins stopped four shots for D.C. United, which outshot the Fire, 9-8.

"The goal they scored was a botched clearance," Perkins said. "Two guys went for it and neither got it. Rolfe got off a good shot with a lot of power behind it, there was nothing I could do."