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Oduro, Gargan, Johnson lead Fire past Toronto FC

DomOduro (ISIPhotos.com) 

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By JOSE M. ROMERO

The Chicago Fire are in last place no more in the MLS Eastern Conference, thanks to goals by someone who is expected to score and someone else who is not. 

In other words, it's likely to be a good day at Toyota Park when striker Dominic Oduro is flying past his defenders and defender Dan Gargan, with one career goal, nets his second. That's what took place Sunday in Bridgeview, Ill., as the Fire defeated Toronto FC 2-0. 

Oduro caught even the spectators off guard, it seemed, when he side footed a pass from Gonzalo Segares past TFC goalkeeper Milos Kocic in the 16th minute. It was Oduro's eighth goal of the season.

Gargan sealed the three points for the Fire with a header past Kocic in the 69th minute. A Pavel Pardo corner kick went all the way through the box to the far post where Gargan was waiting, and he finished it well.

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson was also key to Chicago's win, stopping a shot on target from Ryan Johnson in the 33rd minute and making another athletic save on Joao Plata's header from right in front in the 76th minute.

Johnson's counterpart, Kocic, was credited with four saves himself, or it could have been a blowout. One stopped Marco Pappa's shot in the 45th minute.

In the 51st minute, Julian de Guzman hit the post with a shot and the rebound came out to Plata, who fired wide. 

Chicago had not won in its five previous matches but moved past TFC with 24 points while the Reds remained at 23. 

 

 

Comments

  1. He is our leading scorer with 8, which is more than Brian McBride ever put in for the Fire.

    Chicago Fire – We lead the league in draws and whiny fans.

    Reply
  2. What’s more shocking?

    -) With a record of: 3-7-15, we’re only 8 points out of the Wild-card spot in the playoffs (with 9 matches remaining)

    -) MLS Playoff system

    Perhaps the question should have been: What’s more of a joke?

    Reply
  3. Great to get a win, and great to see Oduro actually SCORE a goal. Was it on accident? Probably. You feel like if he has to think about a shot then it will go horribly awry. But hey, I’ll take the accidents!

    Reply
  4. Gargan’s (twitter) response was fantastic:

    Would like to dedicate that goal to Nana, Gordo, @jacob__peterson @dwaynedrosario and El Queso LaBrocca #damnitfeelsgoodtobeagangster #TFC

    Reply

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