Wolff Ignites Fire to Overtime Win
Josh Wolff scored twice in the second half and set up U.S. World Cup teammate DaMarcus Beasley’s overtime goal as the Chicago Fire beat the New York-New Jersey MetroStars, 3-2, in a Major League Soccer game Saturday in front of 22,070 at East Rutherford, N.J.
Andy Williams and Mamadou Diallo scored for the MetroStars, with Diallo forcing overtime with a penalty-kick goal in the 87th minute.
The Fire (7-7-2) moved into a first-place tie with the MetroStars (7-8-2) in the Eastern Conference.
On Beasley’s game winner, Dema Kovalenko made a steal near midfield and found Wolff with a long pass along the right flank. Wolff then made a perfect pass to Beasley, who scored past goalkeeper Tim Howard 51 seconds before the second five-minute overtime session would have ended.
“When Josh and I are up top we use our abilities including speed to our advantage,” Beasley said.
Wolff wiped out a 1-0 MetroStars’ lead by scoring twice in a three-minute span.
His first goal came in the 53rd minute on a direct free kick from 30 yards. Beasley set up Wolff’s fourth goal of the season by beating defender Mike Petke to the ball along the left flank and passing ahead to Wolff, who touched it past Howard.
The Fire appeared headed for a win in regulation until referee Gus St. Silva ruled that Rodrigo Faria was taken down inside the box by David Vaudreuil. Diallo scored his eighth goal of the season on the penalty kick.
Wolff, stopped by Howard on a penalty kick in the 67th minute, just missed a game-winning goal in the 89th minute.
Chicago, which has six players on the injured reserve list, played without leading scorer Ante Razov. He sat out because of right knee tendinitis.
The MetroStars were without forward Clint Mathis (knee) and midfielder Tab Ramos (hamstring).
Dallas 2, San Jose 1--Ronnie O’Brien scored in the 87th minute in his Dallas debut and San Jose’s Jimmy Conrad scored an own goal in the 50th minute as the Burn won in front of 13,035 at Dallas.
The Burn (8-3-6), with 30 points, trails San Jose (10-6-2) by two points for the league’s best record.
San Jose’s Dwayne DeRosario scored in injury time to cut the lead to 2-1.
DeRosario had a chance to tie the score about a minute later, but Steve Morrow came from behind him to deflect the shot.
Conrad’s own goal came in the 50th minute and gave the Burn a 1-0 lead.
Dallas’ Antonio Martinez crossed a shot from the left side, Conrad made a diving attempt to deflect it, then the ball bounced off Conrad and past goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
O’Brien, signed by the Burn as a free agent this week, scored in the 87th minute off an assist by Ronald Cerritos.
Columbus 3, Washington 1--Brian McBride scored two goals to help the Crew win in front of 13,665 at Washington and end Columbus’ three-game losing streak.
McBride has four goals in three games for the Crew (6-8-3) since returning from the World Cup. D.C. United is 6-9-1.
Kansas City 4, New England 2--Chris Klein scored two goals as the Wizards (6-5-6) ended a seven-game winless streak on the road after scoring three second-half goals in front of 17,138 at Foxboro, Mass.
Leo Cullen scored his second goal in three matches for New England (6-10-1).
