A sub-par Chicago Fire side were easily defeated by the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo scored through Omar Cummings and Boniak Garcia, in what was a crucial match in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The victory takes Houston to within five points of the playoffs with five matches remaining. Meanwhile, the loss for Chicago leaves them ten points adrift with just five matches remaining, and they look certain to miss out on the playoffs yet again. 

Chicago were missing both Bakary Soumare and Lovel Palmer, and without the two starting defenders lacked cohesion at the back. They entered this match off a hugely impressive 3-3 draw at home to DC United, but looked a shadow of that side as they struggled mightily while attacking. Chicago is now winless in their four matches. 

For Houston, this represents a very good win. The Dynamo entered on the back of two straight draws and their playoff hopes were fading, but the three points today will give them hope going forward. With five matches remaining and sitting just five points out of the playoffs, they are still very much alive in the playoff race.

Key Moments:

15' GOAL! Ricardo Clark finds himself with time and space on the left wing, and he sends in a delightful cross to the back post that Cummings meets and calmly finished. Well crafted goal, defending not tight enough on Clark and Chicago are already missing Lovel Palmer.

18' SAVE! Matt Watson finds space on the edge of the 18, but his curling strike is easily held.

37' SAVE! Boniak Garcia bends a pass up and over the defense with the outside of his foot and Giles Barnes is in. He spots Sean Johnson just off his line, and attempts to lob him from 20 yards out. The American keeper turns on his heel, and manages to get back just in time to tip the ball over the bar and keep Chicago in this one.

39' SAVE! Logan Pause makes a foray down the right wing, and bends a ball into the box. The cross is not particularly good, but Quincy Amarikwa contorts his body and gets off a scissor kick that is well kept out.

52' SAVE! Garcia with another scything pass through the middle of the defense to send Barnes away. He finds himself in 1-on-1 with Johnson but the keeper does really well to parry.

53' SAVE! From the ensuing corner, the Dynamo nearly score again! Brad Davis bends in a superb cross, and Matt Cochran heads the ball down and it looks destined for the back of the net! But no, Johnson is there again to claw the ball away. That was a superhuman save! He is single-handedly keeping Chicago in this game.

67' GOAL! An overhit cross is headed back into the mixer by Davis, and Garcia sends a rocket volley into the back of the net! That is a truly stunning finish.

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About the author
Liam McMahon
American sports journalist based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has been affiliated with VAVEL for more than a year. Co-editor of the soccer section at VAVEL USA and international football writer at VAVEL UK.