Andy Williams CHICAGO, Illinois (CMC):
Jamaica international Tyrone Marshall gave up a penalty for his new club Toronto FC as they drew 1-1 with Chicago Fire in US Major League Soccer (MLS) on Saturday night.
Marshall's infringement in the box allowed Chicago to score midway the second half but visiting Toronto FC hit back eight minutes later to grab a share of the points at Toyota Park.
The result allowed Toronto to stay ahead of bottom of the table Chicago in the Eastern Conference.
Penalty dispute
Toronto defenders disputed the penalty in the 70th minute when Chad Barrett fell from a challenge from Marshall.
Stepping into Barrett's path as the striker surged into the box for a return pass, Marshall, who joined Toronto from Los Angeles Galaxy last month was penalised for the challenge and Barrett scored easily himself from the spot.
Maurice Edu netted a superb equaliser in the 78th minute collecting a long pass adeptly on his chest - under pressure from defenders - before hitting a forcing shot past Matt Pickens in the Fire's goal.
Toronto also had in their line-up, the Trinidad and Tobago international Collin Samuel, who scored his first goal for the Canadian franchise Wednesday night in a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake.
Caribbean players Shalrie Joseph (Grenada), Avery John (Trinidad and Tobago) and Khano Smith (Bermuda) also had a drawn result Saturday when their club New England Revolution played to a 1-1 scoreline with Chivas USA.
Early lead
Mexican veteran Claudio Suarez gave Chivas the lead in the fifth minute and the Eastern Conference-leading Revs replied through Andy Dorman in the 64th minute at Gillette Stadium.
Jamaican Shavar Thomas and Cuban Maykel Galindo were in the Chivas side.
Elsewhere, struggling Real Salt Lake (RSL), with just one victory now in 14 games, suffered their seventh defeat of the season when Columbus Crew beat them 2-0 at Crew Stadium.
Second-half goals
Columbus, who had St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) international Ezra Hendrickson on the bench, got second-half goals from Guillermo Barros and Eddie Gaven.
RSL, with Jamaican Andy Williams and St Kitts and Nevis international Atiba Harris in their side, are bottom of the Western Conference table with a wretched record of one win, seven defeats and six draws.
LA Galaxy, who are one spot ahead of RSL in the west, salvaged a point at home when veteran Cobi Jones struck two second half goals for a come from behind 2-2 draw against Kansas City Wizards, who had T&T international Scott Sealy on their playing roster for the first half.
