Bend it Like Blanco

By Todd McClamroch in News on Aug 26, 2007 9:10PM

Chicago Fire Forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco proved that David Beckham is not the only recent Major League Soccer acquisition that can be deadly accurate on free kicks. Kansas City came into Toyota Park after their midweek 3-2 victory over the Fire and dominated the first half of play, heavily out shooting the Fire. Just before the halftime break Fire midfielder Ivan Guerrero was tripped up just outside the Kansas City penalty area resulting in a close range Chicago Fire free kick.

Blanco bent the ball up over the wall of defenders and into the upper corner of the goal leaving Kansas City netminder Kevin "El Gato" Hartman no chance of making the save. Blanco also scored off a free kick against The Fire took the momentum and the lead into the locker room at half.

In the second half, the Fire's defense stepped up and goalkeeper Jon Busch continued to shut down the Kansas City attack. The Fire added an insurance goal in the 86th minute when Blanco crossed a pass into the Kansas City penalty area that connected with the head of a high flying Calen Carr and bouncing past the feet of the Kansas City keeper to give the Fire the 2-0 victory.

Blanco continues to impress; in his five starts he has notched two goals and four assists. The Fire have gone 3-1-1 since his arrival and have nine games left to work their way into the MLS playoffs. They travel to New York to take on the Red Bulls next Saturday at 6:30pm.