Fire 1-0 Dynamo; or how to win ugly

By: Tom | April 29th, 2007

I should have had the balls to stick with my original pick in the prediction’s league, 1-0 to the Fire, instead of my weak backtrack to a 1-1 draw in my game preview. Frankly, though, this was a game that probably should have ended 1-1: Houston hit the crossbar twice, ~~and threatened the Fire goal more than the reverse~~.

[Edit: I just looked at the shot count from the official site, and the Fire actually had 12 shots to Houston's 9, a tally I thought would have been just shaded the other way around. It's also true the Fire came very close to adding a second after their first, and didn't throw everyone behind the ball until the last fifteen minutes or so. So maybe the Fire do deserve more credit than I gave them. On the other hand, they should also be thanking the crossbar profusely tonight.]

But football is not only a beautiful game, it’s also an unforgiving one. The Fire profited from their discipline, hard-work, and a moment of outstanding composure from Chris Rolfe. Given time in the box, Rolfe sold the defenders on a slight shot fake before driving the ball home from fifteen yards out. Houston, meanwhile, wasted numerous clear chances from set-pieces.

Who won this game for the Fire? Two men, in a game of two halves: Dasan Robinson, whose athletic ability allowed him to stand out both defensively and offensively in the first half; and Rolfe, who beyond the goal in the second period also demonstrated a silky first touch beyond the dreams of most MLS attackers.

The Fire decided to pack in even more defensive players by bringing off the solid and creative Thiago for the stolid and negative Logan Pause towards the end, a move that only invited greater pressure from Houston. The Fire clung on with a tenacious effort that will have left them with the rawest stubs for fingernails.

A road win against the MLS champions should not be sneezed at, especially when it means the Fire have taken ten out of a possible twelve points to open the season. It was a true Brad Gilbert-esque effort, but if the Fire can squeeze out games on the road without the likes of Mapp or Blanco available, let’s not bother with the aesthetics of it all just yet.

Also: Calen Carr, three fouls in twenty minutes of action – not the way to earn increased playing time, my friend.