(Sports Network) - Kenny Cooper scored the lone goal of the match as FC Dallas downed the Chicago Fire, 1-0 at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday. Cooper's goal came in the 17th minute for the Hoops, who snapped a three-game winless skid with the victory. Goalkeeper Dario Sala stopped all three shots he faced to record the clean sheet, with Andre Rocha picking up his team- leading sixth assist of the season on Cooper's goal.

Chicago entered the game having gone unbeaten in its first six away matches of the season, but their attack was shut down by the Dallas defense and they dropped their second straight match, leaving the team seven points behind first-place New England in the Eastern Conference.

The game was tight for the first 15 minutes but Rocha sprung Cooper with a great pass from midfield in the 17th minute. Cooper raced past a defender and got to the ball at the top of the box, striking it first time past the onrushing Jon Busch in the Chicago net.

Dominic Oduro caused problems for the Fire defense throughout the match, and he missed a pair of good chances in the second half that could have extended the Dallas lead.

Oduro was denied by a good diving save from Busch midway through the second half, and he narrowly missed hitting the top right corner of the net from inside the box after working his way into the area on the left.

The Fire attack was frustrated by the Hoops back line, and they will need to find their scoring touch in time for Thursday's game at Chivas, while Dallas visits Red Bull New York on Saturday.



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