CHICAGO (AP) Dema Kovalenko had a goal and an assist, and
Peter Nowak scored a goal as the Chicago Fire avenged their MLS Cup
loss with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday
night.
Nowak was later ejected, receiving a red card in the 60th minute
for violent contact, after he stomped on the foot of Wizards
defender Brandon Prideaux. Chicago leads the MLS in ejections with
four.
The victory extended the Fire's unbeaten streak at home to 14
games. Counting playoff games and U.S. Open Cup matches, Chicago
has won 21 straight at Soldier Field.
Led by stingy goalkeeper Tony Meola, the Wizards beat the Fire
1-0 last October to win their first MLS Cup. Chicago outshot Kansas
City 22-6, but Meola was outstanding. The regular-season and MLS
Cup MVP made 10 saves, including three in the final 10 minutes.
But Meola wasn't as sharp Saturday. In the 24th minute, Fire
midfielder Evan Whitfield took a shot from the right side. Meola
grabbed it, and rolled it back to Prideaux to clear it.
But Whitfield cut in front of Prideaux and sent a crossing pass
to Kovalenko, who scored on a wide-open shot from about eight yards
out.
In the 41st minute, Nowak trapped a pass from Kovalenko around
midfield and charged toward the goal. The 36-year-old outsprinted
22-year-old defender Nick Garcia, drawing Meola out of the goal.
As Meola slid to grab the ball, Nowak took his shot and the ball
rolled slowly into the back right corner of the net.
Kovalenko now has a goal and an assist in all three of the
Fire's home games this year.
Nowak's ejection came after Prideaux took him down near the
Kansas City goal. Nowak was looking for a foul, and when none was
called, he stomped on Prideaux's foot.
Nowak, who has gotten two red cards in his MLS career, also will
miss next week's game against the San Jose Earthquakes.