Reserve midfielder Peter Lowry helped enliven the Fire’s 13th anniversary with a milestone goal Friday night at Toyota Park.
Playing in only his second game since June 27, Lowry collected the 600th goal in franchise history in the 30th minute as the Fire beat visiting Columbus 2-0.
The victory, before a crowd of 15,124, helped the Fire (8-11-8, 32 points) maintain flickering MLS playoff hopes.
“It was a solid team effort, a great team win,” said Fire captain Brian McBride, who padded the lead in the 53rd minute with his fifth goal of the season. “Our concentration was good, we probably sat back a little bit too much at the end, (but) we bent and didn’t break.”
Lowry, making only his 12th appearance of the season, was the beneficiary of set up passes from Steven Kinney to Patrick Nyarko, who both earned assists.
“This year Pat has been so dynamic and unpredictable that he’s very difficult to defend,” Lowry said. “You run off him and good things will happen.”
Lowry slipped around Crew defender Chad Marshall and lined a shot past goalie William Hesmer. Lowry’s tally, his second of the season, was the only shot on goal by either team in the opening half.
Nyarko also set up McBride’s goal. A well-placed feed landed at McBride’s foot and he slid a shot past Hesmer even as he appeared to lose balance.
Fire goalie Andrew Dykstra, starting for the first time in nearly three months, earned his fourth shutout. He made saves on three straight-on shots in the second half.
