Fire 2, Crew 1
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mike Magee continued his scoring streak since joining Chicago last month by netting the winner in the 54th minute as the Fire rallied to defeat the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Saturday night.
The Fire (5-7-3) also got a goal from former Crew midfielder Dilly Duka in the 52nd to counter a seventh-minute penalty kick by Federico Higuain of Columbus.
Magee chested a crossing ball by Joel Lindpere for his 10th goal of the season. He has scored in all four MLS games and six in a row overall after the trade that sent him to his hometown from Los Angeles for Robbie Rogers in late May.
The goal came just after Lindpere found Duka at the far post to tie the score. From there, Sean Johnson was stellar in goal down the stretch to preserve the win.
Duka came to the Fire in February from Columbus for Dominic Oduro and the rights to Rogers.
It was Oduro who created the turnover that led to the goal by the Crew (5-6-5).
He stole the ball from defender Austin Berry and raced toward the net. As he reached the box, Johnson came out to the top, but Oduro leaped over and was tripped.
Johnson was cautioned but avoided being red-carded. However, he still had to try and stop Higuain but was unsuccessful in keeping the forward from converting from the spot for the fourth time in five tries this season and his fifth goal overall.
The Fire had to make a change in the 26th minute when captain Logan Pause was removed in favor of midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. Pause missed the past three games because of a groin injury.
Chicago won the first meeting with Columbus 1-0 at home on April 20 and also defeated the visiting Crew 2-1 on June 13 in a fourth-round match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
In fact, the Fire has had great success against its rival under coach Frank Klopas. He has won six of seven games in the series since he took charge in May 2011.
Meanwhile, Crew coach Robert Warzycha has a 3-8-4 mark against the Fire with the teams playing again in Columbus on Sept. 21.
The Fire next play at home against San Jose on July 3.
