BRIDGEVIEW Ill. – Neither the Chicago Fire nor Toronto FC did enough to give their sputtering playoff hopes a boost on Wednesday night, playing to a scoreless draw in front of 12,891 at Toyota Park.

Chicago, however, should have scored in the 48th minute. Designated Player Nery Castillo slipped fellow DP Freddie Ljungberg behind Toronto’s offside trap, allowing the Swedish forward to run to goal completely uninhibited. Ljungberg looked poised to put the Fire ahead, but he blew his one-on-one chance with Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei, sending his rolling shot wide of the right post.

Toronto may feel they should have had two first-half penalty calls, both of which came from hand-ball situations. In the first, Fire defender Dasan Robinson's clearance appeared to strike teammate C.J. Brown's forearm in the box. Later, just before the half, Robinson's header looked to have hit Steven Kinney's hand just outside the six-yard box. The referee waved both calls away.

Toronto’s best scoring chance, though, came in the 74th minute. Fire defender Mike Banner failed to clear a cross inside the area, allowing Toronto forward O’Brian White to rip a shot from just outside the right corner of the six-yard-box. Fortunately for Banner, Fire keeper Sean Johnson came up big, parrying White’s near-post blast away from danger. 

Despite Toronto controlling the early possession, it was Chicago who registered the game’s first chance. Fire winger Patrick Nyarko laced a through-ball to forward Collins John in the 15th minute, freeing the Dutch forward for a low 15-yard shot from the right side of the box that was stopped by a diving Frei.

Toronto had a half chance in the 71st minute. Midfielder Nick LaBrocca collected a loose ball on the right wing and curled a speculative 25-yard shot towards the far post that Johnson bobbled before catching.

Castillo nearly put Chicago ahead in the 80th, almost catching Frei off his line with a 40 yard free kick, but the 'keeper deflected his lofting shot over the bar for a corner kick. 

Castillo had one last opportunity deep in second-half stoppage time, but he couldn’t connect, sending a 22-yard free kick into Toronto’s six-man wall. 

Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos had made wholesale changes to the lineup that tied L.A. 1-1 on Saturday, inserting Collins John, Ljungberg and Robinson into the starting XI for Brian McBride, Gonzalo Segares, and Wilman Conde.  

Toronto Head Coach Preki did similarly, making four changes to the side that lost 1-0 at FC Dallas on Saturday.  Jacob Peterson and Canadian national teamers Julian de Guzman, Dwayne De Rosario, and Nana Attakora replaced Mista, Martin Saric, Nick Garcia and Joseph Nane.

Toronto FC 0, at Chicago Fire 0

Toyota Park

Attendance: 12,891

Toronto FC (7-9-7)

Chicago Fire (6-7-8)

Scoring Summary:

None

Misconduct Summary:

TOR -- Adrian Cann (caution; Tactical Foul) 24

TOR -- Julian de Guzman (caution; Reckless Tackle) 35

CHI -- Patrick Nyarko (caution; Reckless Foul) 68

TOR -- Maksim Usanov (caution; Tactical Foul) 69

Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Maksim Usanov (Nick Garcia 79), Ty Harden, Adrian Cann, Nana Attakora, Jacob Peterson (Maicon Santos 56), Julian de Guzman, Dan Gargan, Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario, O'Brian White (Joseph Nane 83).

Substitutes Not Used: Gabe Gala, Raivis Hscanovics, Jon Conway, Doneil Henry.

Chicago Fire -- Sean Johnson, Steven Kinney, C.J. Brown, Dasan Robinson, Patrick Nyarko, Logan Pause, John Thorrington (Wilman Conde 46), Mike Banner, Freddie Ljungberg (Calen Carr 76), Collins John (Brian McBride 82), Nery Castillo.

Substitutes Not Used: Corben Bone, Baggio Husidic, Krzysztof Krol, Andrew Dykstra.

Referee: Ramon Hernandez

Referee's Assistants: -Cyril Madukanya; Corey Rockwell

4th Official: Michael Kennedy