Rapids can't stop the Fire

COMMERCE CITY - Marco Pappa and Wilman Conde scored and the Chicago Fire ended a three-game losing streak - and a 10-game skid in Colorado - with a 2-1 victory over the Rapids on Saturday night.

Chicago (6-3-6) had been 0-6-4 on the road against the Rapids since 1999. The Fire was coming off a three-week absence from the MLS schedule to play three SuperLiga matches, and hadn't played a league match since losing to D.C. United on June 13. Chicago also improved to 5-1-3 on the road.

Jacob Peterson scored for Colorado (5-4-6), which has lost two straight for the first time this season. The Rapids also dropped to 11-2-1 on Fourth of July matches.

Pappa scored his fifth goal of the season in the 30th minute. He took a pass from Baggio Husidic just outside the crease and nudged the ball past Matt Pickens' right hand.

Conde made it 2-0 in the 37th minute with a goal off a header. Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a corner kick into the middle of the field, and Conde finished the play with his second goal.

Colorado nearly took a lead in the 14th minute, but Mehdl Ballouchy hit the center of the crossbar from 15 yards.

The Rapids avoided the shutout in the 76th minute. The ball was stopped near the right post and Peterson ran up and kicked it into the net for his first goal.