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Jeff Larentowicz's red card for taking down Montreal's Andrea Pisanu looked softer than a down pillow and gave the Fire no hope of coming back in a 2-0 loss to Montreal. For the first 25 minutes, Chicago's attack was back to its ineffectual self.

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After peppering the Columbus goal for practically the entire match, Jeff Larentowicz's late tally gave the Fire the win it deserved against the Crew. Patrick Nyarko was lively for the hosts and on another night might have had multiple assists.

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The Fire looked vastly improved against Houston, with its midfield looking much sharper than in the season's opening weeks. But it wasn't enough to prevent a 2-1 loss. At least there's hope now in the Windy City.

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When Chris Rolfe missed a first-half penalty, it looked like another day of woe for the Fire. But a Daniel Paladini equalizer and two late goals from Maicon Santos gave Chicago a priceless 3-1 win over New York.

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A weekend off gave Chicago a chance to regroup. Manager Frank Klopas will be hoping that a visit from the New York Red Bulls will cure what is ailing his team.

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The good news: After failing to score in its first three games, the Fire got on the board thanks to Patrick Nyarko. The bad news: Just about everything else after a home loss to Chivas USA. Defender Arne Friedrich can't return soon enough.

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After a listless 3-1 loss to Philadelphia in midweek, the Fire rebounded nicely with a 2-0 road win at New York behind two Sherjill MacDonald goals. Arne Friedrich also did his best Franz Beckenbauer impression with some effective runs out of the back.

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The Fire's recent surge had hidden an ugly stat: Five times in the past eight games they had given up the first goal, and after continuing that trend on Friday, there was no way back against SKC.

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An early gaffe from goalkeeper Sean Johnson put Chicago in a hole against Columbus, but two brilliantly taken goals from Chris Rolfe enabled the Fire to claim a 2-1 victory, its seventh in eight games.

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When Chicago Fire manager Frank Klopas kept adding attacking pieces to his roster, you wondered if it would hurt team chemistry. Not so, as Sherjill MacDonald, Alex, and Alvaro Fernandez all found the net in a 3-1 win over Montreal.

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The Chicago Fire had a break from league play, but still stayed sharp with a 2-2 friendly draw against Santos Laguna. Of greater importance will be Wednesday's tilt against Toronto that could see Chicago jump up to second place in the Eastern Conference.

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The Chicago Fire's newly constructed forward tandem of Chris Rolfe and Sherjill MacDonald appears to be finding some chemistry, as both were on the score sheet in a 2-1 win over New England. Chicago seems a cinch for the postseason.

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After a 3-1 win over Philadelphia, the Chicago Fire jumped a spot in this week's ESPN.com Power Rankings.

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Despite a 2-0 loss to Los Angeles, the Chicago Fire held their spot in this week's ESPN.com Power Rankings.

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A big win in Kansas City has the Chicago Fire moving up in this week's ESPN Power Rankings.

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