Real Salt Lake vs. Chicago Fire Live, 2011 MLS: Halftime, Chicago Leads 2-0

Two goals from Marco Pappa have given the Chicago Fire a surprise 2-0 lead over Real Salt Lake at the half Wednesday. The visitors have held the upper hand in a very physical first 45 minutes, and Pappa's goalscoring touch has returned for the first time since June. He got the first in the 10th minute, on Chicago's first major chance, when good link-up play off a throw-in provided Pappa with a shot just inside the box, and he took advantage. Following the surprising lead, the start became even worse for RSL as Kyle Beckerman earned a straight red card in the 11th minute after a shove and headbutt in midfield. With notoriously card-happy referee Baldomero Toledo calling the match, there wasn't much room for extracurricular activity, and Beckerman was quickly dismissed.

The physical play continued a few minutes later when Dan Gargan was given a yellow card in the 16th minute for shoving Fabian Espindola, who looked like he was trying to get under Gargan's skin, but the Fire remain up a man heading into the restart. They also doubled their lead when Pappa hit a well-placed shot into the left side net in the 36th minute. At this point, it looks like Chicago is firmly in control of the match, but a shot by Dominic Oduro in the 43rd minute that could have been the dagger for RSL was saved by Nick Rimando. Given Chicago's difficulty in maintaining leads recently, it looks like they will cruise in the second half, but a comeback from RSL is not out of question.