|
 An early goal by Ghanaian international David Accam and a late
penalty by Scottish international Shaun Maloney earned the Fire just
their sixth win of the season after they entered the match with the
worst record in the league.
Accam’s goal, his sixth of the season, came after only three minutes
when he nutmegged Dallas keeper Dan Kennedy from a tight angle.
Dallas needed a win to go back atop the Western Conference and they
had their chances, most notably one that fell to Victor Ulloa, who
sent a shot whistling inches wide of the far post in the 26th
minute.
And Dallas could not take advantage of a one-man advantage after
Chicago substitute Matt Watson was given a straight red card in the
79th minute for a studs-up challenge on Rolando Escobar.
Instead, it was the Fire who scored, with Maloney converting from
the spot in the 85th minute after Kellyn Acosta was adjusted to have
fouled Kennedy Igboananike just inside the penalty area.
"We’re at the bottom of the table and to score early I think took a
big bit of pressure off us and I think we played reasonably well on
the counterattack," Maloney told Fox Sports after a result that
lifted the Fire off the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with 22
points from 21 matches.
SAN JOSE AND PORTLAND IN GOALLESS DRAW
A day after 39 goals were notched in eight Saturday games, scoring
dried up in the two Sunday matches, with San Jose Earthquakes and
Portland Timbers drawing 0-0 in the other game.
[to top of second column] |
A draw did not do much good for the Earthquakes, second-bottom in
the West, but they were fortunate to pick up even one point after
Portland twice hit the woodwork.
A fierce strike by Fanendo Adi struck the post in the 47th minute,
though there was more than a hint of offside in the pass that put
him on track to goal.
Later, Argentine Diego Valeri missed a penalty for Portland in the
75th minute when his strike thundered against the crossbar.
Portland coach Caleb Porter was moderately pleased with a draw,
given that his team had conceded 12 goals in their three previous
away games.
“What I’m most pleased about, outside the result, is the fact we
defended well," he told ESPN.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Larry
Fine)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
