Fast start lifts Fire

BRIDGEVIEW – Marco Pappa and Dominic Oduro scored in the first 26 minutes Saturday, and the Fire earned a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew.

The victory moved the Fire (7-5-3) within three points of third-place New York in the Eastern Conference. Columbus, dominated from the start by the Fire, had entered the game with a six-match unbeaten streak (3-0-3).

The Crew’s last loss was April 28, 1-0 to Vancouver.

Pappa maneuvered to the edge of the penalty area, and using a screen, ripped a right-footed shot off the hands of diving goalkeeper Andy Gruenbaum in the second minute.

Oduro made it 2-0 in the 26th minute, outrunning a pair of defenders while in control of Sebastian Grazzini’s pass before chipping the ball past Gruenbaum from 15 yards.

Columbus’ Tony Tchani cut the gap to 2-1 in the 36th minute, taking a pass from fellow midfielder Chris Birchall and beating Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson from 10 yards.

The Fire’s Gonzalo Segares was ejected in the 29th minute when his right foot clipped the right shin of Columbus’ Kevin George while they slid for a loose ball. Segares will miss the Fire’s match Friday at Kansas City.