Own goal gives Sounders 2-1 win over Fire

The Seattle Sounders benefited from an own goal in the 89th minute to beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 Saturday night for their fourth straight win.

Chicago's Gonzalo Segares ran back toward the goal to clear the ball and instead knocked it into the net.

''We did a very good job in making offensive chances and we didn't connect on that one but we connected on an own goal,'' said Seattle midfielder Mauro Rosales. ''It was a lucky one. But I think we deserved the win because we had the effort to go forward and control of the game. It was a great game for us.''

Lamar Neagle also scored for Seattle (14-8-4), which has won seven of its last eight to move two points behind first-place Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference.

Neagle is tied for the team lead with seven goals and has been a big part of the hot streak and turnaround from early in the year.

''We saw people kind of panicking and wondering how this year was going to turn out,'' Neagle said. ''We knew from the start and if you look around our locker room we are a confident bunch and the players to do it. We have the veterans and our new guys are stepping up left and right.''

Mike Magee had a goal for the Fire (10-11-5), which has never beaten the Sounders while losing for the fourth straight time in Seattle.

''It happens,'' Fire coach Frank Klopa said about the own goal. ''You're running behind and sometimes the ball comes and those things happen. It's a little disappointing now not to walk away with points. I thought the team played really well and definitely deserved to walk away with points.''

Magee gave the Fire a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on a left-footed kick from the center of the box off an assist from Dilly Duka. Magee, who didn't play in the second half, broke free behind the defense to receive the ball and shot it past goalkeeper Michael Gspurning for his 15th goal.

Magee hurt his groin in the first half and sat out the second half.

''With the amount of games coming up and being on turf this game we wanted to make sure we don't miss him for four or five games,'' Klopa said. ''He tweaked it a little but it could have been worse. He came out and hopefully we got it on time and he will be ready for Wednesday.''

Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso missed a penalty kick in the 30th minute that goalkeeper Sean Johnson punched away. A hand ball in the penalty area by Bakary Soumare off a corner kick set up the attempt.

Neagle blasted a left-footed kick in the 40th minute off an assist from Marc Burch to tie the score.

Johnson had saves early in the second half on Seattle shots by Alonso and Obafemi Martins, who returned after missing four games with a sprained ankle. Johnson made a diving save on a shot by Alonso in the 50th minute.

Martins shot wide on a header in the 83rd minute.

Seattle's Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson missed the game while training with the U.S. national team for Tuesday's game against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio.