The Chicago Fire (7-9-3, 24 points) had a highlight evening in what has been a very disappointing season. The Chicago Fire soundly defeated D.C. United (2-14-4, 10 points) 4-1 Saturday evening at Toyota Park in front of what was announced as a crowd of 17,000 . The team had been drawing about 12-13,000 a game, according to a season ticket holder friend of mine, so this was a great night for them both on the field and at the gate.
Chicago Fire Captain Logan Pause entered the match in the 77th minute for his first meaningful competitive action since June 22. Although Pause started and played 58 minutes in the Fire’s MLS Reserve League match on Tuesday, July 17. Still, this was kind of an important moment for the match, the team and the season, yet the crowd reaction was undistinguished.
They didn’t seem to get it. But the night belonged to Chris Rolfe, not Logan Pause, anyway.
It seemed like the Chicago Fire were up 2-0 before anyone even reached their seats. They opened scoring just two minutes in on a really soft goal when Rolfe leapt into the air and sent his right-footed volley past United goalkeeper Joe Willis to give the Fire the early lead.
The Chicago Fire burned D.C. United again in the 11th minute when Lindpere took a touch to settle and blasted his left-footed shot in the center of the goal. Rolfe completed his brace one minute into first half stoppage time when Lindpere played a perfectly-weighted ball over the top of the United defense. Rolfe raced in towards goal and tucked his left-footed shot past Willis for his second goal of the night.
The Chicago Fire return to action when they head to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m.
Chicago Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas On Chris Rolfe’s performance:
“It was great. I thought Chris [Rolfe] had opportunities last game and I think both goals were great finishes, and I think his movement was very good. The first ball that Joel [Lindpere] played to him, his movement; it was just a fantastic goal. The second one also came on a break through ball and his finish [was great]. Chris has that kind of quality. I think more than anything today, besides his goals, his work rate was fantastic. You can play him out wide he’s willing to do the work. .”
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)