Galaxy Falls to Chicago on a Penalty Kick, 2-1

Chicago clinched a Major League Soccer playoff berth when Andy Herron scored on a late penalty kick that gave the Fire a 2-1 win over the Galaxy on Saturday night.

The win gave Chicago 44 points and second place in the Eastern Conference.

Chris Rolfe gave Chicago (12-9-8) a 1-0 lead when he scored 33 seconds into the game for the second-fastest goal in Fire history. Tony Sanneh passed the ball to Justin Mapp, who crossed it to Rolfe on the right side of the box. Rolfe sent it over diving goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

Landon Donovan tied the score in the 78th minute. Peter Vagenas sent a short pass to Donovan, who made a run up field and shot the ball into the lower left corner for his ninth goal.

In the 82nd minute, the Galaxy’s Tyrone Marshall took down Herron inside the box. The referee issued Marshall a yellow card and awarded a penalty kick. Herron sent the ball over Hartman for the victory. Matt Pickens made 10 saves for the Fire and now has a 4-1 record.

The Galaxy (9-14-6) remains at the bottom of the Western Conference with 33 points.

Chicago and the Galaxy play again in the championship of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday at 7 p.m.