Jim Curtin, Colorado Rapids MVP

The Chicago Fire solidified their standing of second place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew on Saturday in Chicago. But a 9 game winning streak came to an end for The Men in Red after a 1-0 loss last night in Colorado.

Aside from the team's July 29th 0-0 tie with Columbus, this was easily one of the most boring and uneventful games of the 2006 campaign. The Fire saw their streak end last night in just about the worst possible way. A 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids came courtesy of the dreaded own goal in only the 3rd minute of play. Defender Jim Curtin was responsible for that one.

The Fire accidentally scored on their own goal. That's it. There was no other scoring in the game. Bad.

Goalkeeper Matt Pickens started once again, in place of the injured Zach Thornton, and was solid once again. A sparkling effort from Pickens and the Fire defense was squandered last night. The Rapids managed only 2 shots on goal.

The Men in Red did manage to pick up three points on Saturday though. All of their scoring, in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew, came shortly before the end of the first half.

Nate Jacqua redirected a cross from Justin Mapp, in the 40th, for his team leading seventh goal of the season.

Defender C.J. Brown headered home a cross from Captain Chris Armas, in stoppage, to give the Fire a 2-0 lead. That was Brown's first goal since his 1998 rookie season, breaking a 201 game goalless streak.

Last night's loss in Colorado was Chicago's first since August 12th (Chivas, 2-1).

With 38 points, the Fire remains in second in the East. But last night's 1-1 tie between New England and D.C. United narrowed the Fire's lead, over the third-place Revolution, to only three points (meaning a Fire loss on Sunday to the conference leader and a New England victory on Wednesday over the struggling New York Red Bulls would knot Chicago and New England in a tie for second in the East).

The Men in Red host Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United, on Sunday, at Toyota Park. In what has been a pretty even match up so far this season, the Fire holds a 1-1-1 record against D.C. in MLS and Open Cup play.