One down, four to go and second place, at least, is looking more secure for the Fire.
The Fire (13-5) made it 11 in row overall and three in a row over the Dallas Burn Saturday night with a 1-0 victory in front of 12,372 in a soggy Cotton Bowl. The victory got the monthlong, five-game road trip off to a productive start.
The last 70 minutes of the game were played in a heavy rain, which is nothing new for the Fire. Five of its eight road games this season have been played in the rain.
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The only goal came from Dallas-killer Lubos Kubik in the 37th minute. It’s the third goal for Kubik, all of which have come at the expense of the Burn (9-9).
“Maybe Dallas isn’t lucky with me,” the Czech-born defender said.
It was an odd play that led to the tally. Peter Nowak was dispossessed just outside the Dallas penalty area and was sent to the ground. The ball was played back to Chris Armas who sent it back to Nowak.
Although Nowak was still on the ground, he was able to stick out his left leg and touch the ball over to Kubik. After dribbling a couple of steps to his right, Kubik sent a perfect chip over the head of Dallas keeper Mark Dodd.
“I just saw somebody off to my side and saw the color of his shorts,” Nowak said of one of the strangest assists in his career. “Lubos scored a fantastic goal, like last Wednesday and like Jerzy (Podbrozny) in Boston.”
Chip goals are becoming commonplace for the Fire. The goal was almost a carbon copy of Kubik’s goal in a 4-1 Fire victory over Dallas Wednesday at Soldier Field.
“This was a more important goal,” Kubik said. “(Wednesday’s) was a 4-1 game. This was the only goal, it was very important.”
After dominating the last 35 minutes of the first half, the Fire was back on its heels at times in the second half. Dallas put five shots on goal in the last 45 minutes, but none past Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who notched his league-leading sixth shutout.
The best Dallas chance came in the 75th minute, when Mickey Trotman was pulled down just outside the area by defender C.J. Brown. But the ensuing free kick produced no worries for Thornton and the Fire.
The Fire hopes the rest of its trip is as worry-free.