Joe Cannon #1 of the Vancouver Whitecaps makes a save against Dominic Oduro #8 of the Chicago Fire in an MLS match on July 14, 2012 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) — Midfielder Pavel Pardo scored on an early free kick and Chicago snapped a 221-minute scoreless streak on the way to a 1-0 victory over Vancouver on Saturday.
The Fire (9-6-4, 31 points) prevailed despite playing a man short for the final 21 minutes after defender Arne Friedrich was ejected with a second yellow card.
The Whitecaps (8-6-6, 30 points) suffered their second straight loss and third in a five-game road swing.
Chicago was awarded a free kick in the ninth minute when Whitecaps midfielder Jun Marques Davidson tripped Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko on a run outside the box.
Pardo then lined a 23-yard kick into the right corner for his first goal of the season in the ninth minute.
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