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Fire's defense has been springing a leak

CARSON, Calif. -- The Fire's immediate priority going into its match Friday night against Chivas USA was plugging up a leaky defense.

The Fire, which was 2-2-2 going into the match, had given up two goals in each of its previous two games and three of its previous four and had managed to win just once in that span -- against winless Toronto FC.

"In the past two games, we've given up two goals, and that's not going to win us any games," goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had started the last three games, told the MLS website.

"Definitely as a defensive unit, we've got to get better. ... Game-by-game, you want to say you build and build, but, honestly, it's coming together. Players are jelling, and it's coming together, but we've got to come out next week and really prove it and turn things around."

They had to do so without starting center back Jalil Anibaba, who was red-carded following a postgame brawl stemming from his late tackle on Leo Gonzalez at the end of Seattle's 2-1 victory at Toyota Park. Head coach Frank Klopas also was dismissed postgame -- for inappropriate comments directed to referee Michael Kennedy.

Both received one-game suspensions. Assistant coaches Leo Percovich and Mike Matkovich ran the team in Klopas' absence, and rookie Austin Berry was expected to make his Major League Soccer debut in Anibaba's place, partnering two-time German World Cup veteran Arne Friedrich, set to make his fourth start since joining Chicago.

Friedrich was stressing communication at the back.

"Sometimes we have to communicate more, and especially louder because we are new teammates and we don't know each other that well that we can play without any talking," Friedrich told the league's website. "This is what we have to improve, and I guess it's one of the reasons why we've given up so many goals."