Photo by Mike DiNovo/USA Today Sports

BY COLE KELLOGG

The parity of Major League Soccer was showcased again on Sunday night in Bridgeview, Illinois, as the last-place Chicago Fire beat a red-hot FC Dallas side.

A third minute strike from David Accam and a late penalty from Shaun Maloney was all the Fire needed to secure a 2-0 win over Dallas at Toyota Park. The leadership provided by the return of Fire captain Jeff Larentowicz also proved vital, as the team earned just its second MLS win in 10 league matches.

Dallas has been MLS’s hottest side over the last six weeks. This loss breaks a five-match MLS win streak for Oscar Pareja’s men.

The Fire struck early through Accam. In the third minute, Jason Johnson played Accam into space with a ball on the floor. The Ghanaian Designated Player made it through Matt Hedges and put it through Dan Kennedy’s legs to put his side up, 1-0, early.

Chicago was buzzing in the opening minutes of the match, coming out with more intensity from the opening whistle than the home fans have seen from the Men in Red this season.

Substitute Matt Watson was shown a straight red in the 79th minute, putting the Fire in a man-down situation to close out the match. Watson went in dangerously with a studs up challenge on Rolando Escobar.

Frank Yallop’s men showed resilience after going down a man, though. A combination between Accam and Kennedy Igboananike led to a late penalty for the Fire. Igboananike was brought down in the 83rd minute, and Maloney blasted the resulting penalty past Kennedy to put the Fire up, 2-0, late.

Neither of the South American speedsters from FC Dallas could make an impact on the evening, as Mauro Diaz and Fabian Castillo were kept quiet. Instead, it was the speed of Accam and skill of Jason Johnson that proved too much for the visitors to handle.

On Friday, the Fire will travel to Portland to face off against the Timbers (11 p.m., Univision Deportes). FC Dallas has a bye next week and will return to action at home against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, Aug. 15.