Burn, Fire Will Play Third Game

Chad Deering scored as the Dallas Burn tied the Chicago Fire, 1-1, Sunday to force a decisive game in their opening round MLS playoff series.

In the MLS playoff system, the first team to five points wins the series. Each team gets three points for a victory and one for a tie in the three-game series.

Chicago won Game 1 and could have clinched the series with a win. The tie leaves the Fire with four points and Dallas with one.

If the Burn win Game 3 in Chicago Saturday, the teams will play a sudden death overtime to decide the series. Chicago needs only a tie to win the series.

The Burn opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Deering knocked a shot into the left corner of the Fire goal. Jason Kreis crossed a pass to Bobby Rhine, who found a streaking Deering for the goal.

Deering, who scored two goals in the regular season, was shaken up on the play when he was kicked in the back of the leg, but managed to stay in the game.

Chicago tied the game in the 84th minute when Jamar Beasley rebounded a missed shot by Dema Kovalenko and beat Burn goalie Matt Jordan. Peter Nowak also got an assist.

Chicago had a chance to win in overtime, but Evan Whitfield’s shot barely missed an open net.

“We have to come out and play like we did in Game 1,” Beasley said. “They’re going to come out intense and we have to match that intensity.”

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MLS Playoffs Quarterfinals, best-of-three, three points for victory, one point for tie:

No. 6 New York-New Jersey vs. No. 3 Galaxy

* Game 1: New York-New Jersey 1, Galaxy 1.

* Game 2: Wednesday, at New York-New Jersey, 5 p.m.

* Game 3: Saturday, at Galaxy, 7 p.m.

*

Other Series

* No. 2 Chicago leads No. 7 Dallas, 4-1. Next: Saturday, at Chicago, 5 p.m.

* No. 1 Miami leads No. 8 Kansas City, 3-0. Next: Wednesday, at Kansas City, 5:30 p.m.

* No. 5 San Jose leads No. 4 Columbus, 3-0. Next: Wednesday, at San Jose, 7 p.m.