Fire falter in second half, fall to Chivas USA
March, 24, 2013
Mar 24
8:01
PM CT
By Associated Press
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Defender Joaquin Velazquez and striker Juan Agudelo scored midway through the second half to lead Chivas USA to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Sunday.
Velazquez gave Chivas (2-1-1) a 2-1 lead on a header in the 73rd minute. He directed midfielder Edgar Mejia's long cross from the left side past goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi before Chicago's defenders could react.
Agudelo scored just under 2 minutes later. He took a loose ball, ran to the goal, and scored from 15 yards out when Chicago midfielder Jeff Larentowicz backed off.
Chivas added an own goal in the 89th minute when Fire defender Jalil Anibaba knocked Jose Correa's centering pass into the Chicago goal.
Patrick Nyarko scored Chicago's only goal, its first of the season after 333 minutes, 57 seconds, plus stoppage time, without a tally. It tied the match, but only for 9 minutes.
Mejia opened the scoring on a 24-yard blast in the 57th minute.
The Fire dropped to 0-3-1.
The wind gusted to 33 mph, playing havoc with passes, and was more of a factor in the play than the 36-degree temperature. Notably, the Fire's Daniel Paladini sent a fine pass toward Austin Berry near the goal in the 11th minute, but the wind whipped the ball sideways and off the unsuspecting head of Velazquez.
Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy made seven saves.
Tornaghi, who made two stops, started in goal for the Fire with Sean Johnson playing for the U.S. national team. Fire forward Alex was brought off the field on a stretcher after a second-half collision, but was awake and alert.

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