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Fire-Red Bulls Preview

May 23, 2009 - 6:27 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Chicago (3-0-6) at New York (2-5-3), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Fire have yet to lose, and by winning their last contest they stopped a streak of five consecutive ties.

Their first match against the New York Red Bulls went just as well.

The league's lone remaining unbeaten club will try to pick up its fourth victory - and second against the Red Bulls - when the Eastern Conference rivals tangle Sunday afternoon at Giants Stadium.

Chicago (3-0-6) went 2-0-1 in its first three games of the season, including a 1-0 victory over New York (2-5-3) - the club's fourth straight win over the Red Bulls - in its April 5 home opener. After that match, though, the Fire settled for draws in their following five contests.

They got back in the win column in their latest game, as second-half goals from Chris Rolfe and Brian McBride ensured a 2-0 victory at Toronto FC on May 16.

"We were disappointed, we needed the points - we want to win games, we have had enough ties," McBride said. "To be honest with you it was about finishing the game off - playing strong defensively and having a high work rate and we did that today."

The win snapped the Fire's five-game streak of ties - one short of an MLS record.

By picking up at least a point for a ninth straight game, Chicago moved closer to a more impressive league mark. The Fire's nine-game unbeaten streak to start the season is three shy of the MLS record of 12, set by Los Angeles in the league's inaugural season of 1996.

"I think it's a relief we got the three points, we've been going in the right direction so far all season," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said.

Two of Chicago's three wins have come on the road - as have 11 of its 16 goals - but it will likely face a stiff challenge Sunday. The Red Bulls are 2-1-2 with 10 goals in five games at Giants Stadium.

Their last two league games have been in East Rutherford. New York snapped a three-game slide with a 4-1 win over San Jose on May 8, and followed that effort May 16 with a 1-all draw against Houston after John Wolyniec scored the equalizer in the 88th minute.

Wolyniec's goal was a welcome change for the Red Bulls, who had given up costly goals after the 90th minute in a pair of earlier matches.

"It's great to have one go on your side," said forward Juan Pablo Angel, who leads the team with three goals. "We suffered this year in a couple of games where in the very last minute we threw it away. Today we tied it and almost won it. It happens sometimes. It's nice to have luck as we had today."

For Wolyniec, who has only played in four games this season, the goal was his first in regular-season play since July 22, 2007.

The Fire are 8-7-2 all-time in East Rutherford.