Fire Score Early and Often in Home Opener

By Todd McClamroch in News on Apr 4, 2008 3:52PM

The Chicago Fire lit up the Revolution in the Fire home opener on last night. Just four minutes into the game Chad Barrett buried a goal to give the Fire the early lead.

Minutes later, the Revolution where dealt a blow when Jeff Larentowicz earned a red card for a studs-up tackle. With a man advantage the Fire turned up the heat notching three more goals to tie an MLS record for a 4-0 advantage at halftime.

Fire newcomer Tomasz Frankowski played just 45 minutes but netted two goals, including his first as a Fire striker. Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored the other goal on a penalty kick that was earned when Justin Mapp was tackled as he drove into the box.

The barrage of goals helped earn new head coach Denis Hamlett his first victory at the helm. The Fire return to action a week from Saturday when they travel to California to take on the San Jose Earthquakes.