BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Dominic Oduro and Cory Gibbs scored in the first half as the Chicago Fire beat the Rapids 2-0 Saturday night.
Oduro scored his ninth goal of the season after winning a fight for the ball following a 60-yard pass from Pavel Pardo in the 17th minute. Oduro beat Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens with a low shot for his fourth goal in five matches.
The Fire (4-7-15) made it 2-0 at the 35-minute mark when Gibbs sneaked into the box and redirected midfielder Sebastian Grazzini’s deep-angle pass from the left side behind Pickens.
Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson stopped four shots in scoring his sixth shutout of the season.
Defending MLS champion Colorado (10-7-11) saw its six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) come to an end.
The Rapids’ best chance came with seven minutes remaining when Chicago midfielder Daniel Paladini cleared Colorado’s eighth corner kick of the night off the goal line.
Chicago’s Gonzalo Segares picked up his sixth yellow card of the year and will miss the Fire’s Sept. 10 match at San Jose. He remains eligible for Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal match against Richmond.
Colorado 0 0 — 0
Chicago 2 0 — 2
First half — 1, Chicago, Oduro 9 (Pardo), 17th minute. 2, Chicago, Gibbs 2 (Grazzini, Pardo), 36th. Second half — None.
Goalies — Colorado, Matt Pickens; Chicago, Sean Johnson.
Yellow cards — Moor, Colorado, 55th; Segares, Chicago, 61st; Nyassi, Colorado, 67th; Mullan, Colorado, 75th.
Referee — Juan Guzman. Assistant referees — Chris Strickland. Kevin Duliba. 4th official — Abbey Okulaja.
