The Sports Xchange
By Michael Kelly, The Sports Xchange
Fire 0, Rapids 0
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The Colorado Rapids generated chances up to the final moment but couldn’t score in a 0-0 tie with the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
The Rapids (6-4-4) stretched their unbeaten streak to three games with their second scoreless tie of the season.
They almost pulled it out in added time when midfielder Dillon Serna lofted a shot over Fire goaltender Sean Johnson, but the ball bounced off the crossbar and the game ended shortly after that.
The Fire (2-3-8) are 2-1-2 in their last five games.
After scoring seven goals in their past two games — both of them victories — the Rapids found it tough to score against the Fire. Chicago, which leads the league in draws, didn’t generate many offensive chances but kept Colorado from getting any momentum from their rushes.
Colorado forward Deshorn Brown had the first chance of the second half with an open path to the net, but Johnson made a save in the 63rd minute.
Chicago’s best chance came in the 76th minute. Forward Juan Luis Anangono got a step on defender Shane O’Neill, and when Rapids goaltender John Berner went after the ball, Anangono headed it over him but just wide of the open net.
Colorado nearly scored in the 79th minute, but Fire defender Drew Moor headed a ball wide off a centering pass.
The Rapids dominated chances in the first half but couldn’t score. Midfielder John Neeskens had two opportunities in the 14th and 18th minutes, but Johnson made a save on the first one.
The Rapids’ best scoring chances came from midfielder Charles Eloundou. On the first, defender Steven Kinney made a sliding tackle to prevent a shot in the 35th minute. Eloundou’s best opportunity came a minute later when he found an open lane and blasted a low shot that Johnson just knocked wide with his left hand.
Eloundou kept up the pressure with another scoring chance in the 37th minute, but defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado’s tackle prevented a shot.
The Fire didn’t have a shot on goal in the first half.
NOTES: Chicago D Benji Joya was given a yellow card in the 20th minute. … Rapids G Clint Irwin posted his fifth shutout against Houston on Sunday. He shares the MLS lead in shutouts with Houston’s Tally Shaw and Sporting KC’s Eric Kronberg. Colorado has six shutouts. … The Fire’s last three goals entering Wednesday had come from penalty kicks. Chicago’s last goal from open play was May 10 against New York.
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