With the Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo really needing three points to bolster their playoff aspirations, the two sides were forced to settle for a 1-1 tie that doesn't do much to help either team. The Dynamo moved level on points for second place in the Eastern Conference, but are still just five points clear of the No. 11 team despite having played two more games. The Fire moved two points behind the No. 10 playoff spot, but have played one more game than the New York Red Bulls and have just three matches remaining.
Houston Dynamo Vs. Chicago Fire, MLS 2011: Tie Helps No One
Both teams scored their goals in the first half. Colin Clark opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when he pounced on a free ball inside the goal box after a corner kick bounced off a Fire defender. The lead was short-lived, though, as Dominic Oduro scored his 12th goal of the season 10 minutes later to tie it up.
Oduro’s goal was his seventh in his past 10 games and helped the Fire continue a rather impressive turnaround since they bottomed out on Aug. 7. Since then, the Fire have gone 5-1-2 to climb out of the East’s basement and move within striking distance of the playoffs.
Part of the Fire's problem in this game was coach Frank Klopas trying to balance his team's already thin playoff hopes with the reality that they will be playing for the team's record-tying fifth U.S. Open Cup title on Tuesday. Pavel Pardo, Patrick Nyarko and Marco Pappa were all held out of the starting lineup in an attempt to rest them. The Fire were also without Dan Gargan and Sebastian Grazzini, who are nursing injuries. Oduro was eventually pulled in the 52nd minute, leaving the Fire considerably less dangerous for much of the second half.
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