Chivas USA earns 1-1 tie with Chicago Fire

Chivas USA ended its three-match losing streak Saturday night in soccer’s favorite fashion: with a 1-1 tie.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire (2-4-12) kept their streak rolling along, now at four draws in a row, as seven of the Fire’s last eight matches have ended knotted up.

Fire midfielder Dominic Oduro had four shots on goal in the first half at the Home Depot Center.

All four came down to only him and Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Oduro’s third time was the charm, and he handed the Fire a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute.

Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko led Oduro up the left side as he outran Chivas defender Michael Umana. Kennedy was forced to charge Oduro, and Oduro touched the ball around Kennedy into the far side of the net from point-blank range.

“We allowed him to cause some problems,” Chivas Coach Robin Fraser said. “You know the guy is fast as lightning, so you just really need to be switched on and be prepared to deal with him.”

Just one minute after halftime, Chivas midfielder Nick LaBrocca delighted the 15,152 in attendance with the tying goal. Defenseman Michael Lahoud played the ball up to LaBrocca, who promptly took a shot straight at the crossbar. The shot caught the underside of the bar and bounced behind Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

“We make one or two mistakes and find ourselves down early,” Fraser said. “Full credit to the team coming out of the locker room with an aggressive mentality and getting an early strike to tie things up.”

Aside from LaBrocca’s tango with the crossbar, opportunities were few and far between for Chivas (4-7-6).

Midfielder Jorge Flores had a clear view momentarily in the 32nd minute, but instead of taking the shot as soon as the ball reached him, Flores settled it mid-stride. The added half-second gave Johnson time to close the gap and stifle Flores’ attempt as soon as it left his foot.

Oduro alone approached the net more often than the entire Chivas team. Kennedy deflected his first shot wide in the eighth minute.

In the 42nd, Oduro fired a shot into a charging Kennedy. The deflection played right to Nyarko, who chipped the ball toward an open goal, but Umana managed to clear the threat before it crossed the line.

douglas.farmer@latimes.com

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