PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- DaMarcus Beasley scored his first two goals of the Major League Soccer season Saturday to lead the Chicago Fire in a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl.
The victory, combined with Columbus' 2-1 loss to D.C. United, gives the first-place Fire (14-6-4) a seven-point lead over the second-place Crew in the Central Division. The two teams will face each other Wednesday night in Chicago.
Ante Razov, who returned to the Fire on Aug. 3 after playing for Racing de Ferrol in Spain's second division, began the scoring in the fifth minute.
The Chicago forward ran onto Peter Nowak's crossing pass from
the left wing and redirected the ball with his right foot from the
edge of the six-yard goalkeeper's box.
Beasley scored his first goal in the 64th minute. He took Dema
Kovalenko's pass at the left side of the penalty area and fired an
11-yard shot off the hands of goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
Peter Vagenas' 25-yard line drive in the 78th minute broke the
shutout.
Beasley finished the scoring in second-half stoppage time with a
looping 16-yard shot that Vagenas could not clear off the goal
line.
Los Angeles coach Sigi Schmid was ejected soon after Beasley's
second goal.
The Galaxy (12-7-5) had two chances to take the lead in the
second minute off corner kicks.
First, Luis Hernandez's seven-yard back heel pass hit the right
post. Then Cobi Jones took a 16-yard shot that goalkeeper Zach
Thornton dived to deflect.
Los Angeles had two good chances to tie. In the 14th minute,
Thornton deflected Sasha Victorine's seven-yard line drive off
Chris Armas' chest; Diego Gutierrez cleared the ball off the goal
line.
In second-half stoppage time, Alex Bengard headed Jones' corner
kick on goal from 12 yards, but Thornton dived to his right for the
save.
Chicago forward Hristo Stoitchkov did not dress after straining
his right hamstring in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals Aug. 22.
Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos missed his first game of
the season with a bruised left calf.