The Wizards scrambled to contain Cuauhtemoc Blanco, whose passes led to a pair of goals, but produced three goals of their own thanks to Jose Burciaga Jr. to beat Chicago, 3-2.

After a great long ball by Blanco sent Chad Barrett clear to score in first-half stoppage time, Kansas City (9-7-5) overran the Fire (6-9-5) to score three straight goals. Burciaga set up Sasha Victorine and Scott Sealy for the first two and nailed home the third himself to offset a late Dasan Robinson strike.

Sealy scored just two minutes after Gonzalo Segares had been sent off for a second caution, and Burciaga netted from close range after Eddie Johnson had touched a centering ball from Ryan Raybould.

Chicago took just 11 shots yet through Blanco, Chris Rolfe and substitute Paulo Wanchope repeatedly stretched the Kansas City back line. Keeper Kevin Hartman rescued his mates with some superb saves, including a stop on Wanchope that yielded a rebound Ivan Guerrero shanked wide of the post.

The teams meet again in Chicago this weekend with points becoming precious for Chicago, which is three points out of the eighth playoff spot.

Aug. 22 in Kansas City
Kansas City 3 Chicago 2.

Goals: Victorine (Burciaga Jr., Arnaud) 54, Sealy (Burciaga Jr.) 68, Burciaga Jr. (Johnson, Raybould) 82; Barrett (Blanco) 46+, Robinson 83.

Kansas City - Hartman, Conrad, Raybould (Jewsbury, 83), Burciaga Jr., Garcia, Arnaud, Morsink, Zavagnin, ictorine (Harrington, 70), Johnson, Sealy (Movsisyan, 75).

Chicago - Busch, Robinson, Brown, Segares, Pause, Gutierrez, Soumare, Mapp (Guerrero, 75), Barrett (Wanchope, 46), Blanco, Rolfe (Carr, 59).

Yellow Cards: Kansas City - Morsink 10, Burciaga Jr. 61, Sealy 69; Chicago - Segares 52, Blanco 60, Gutierrez 76, Robinson 81, Brown 83.

Red Card: Chicago - Segares 66.

Referee: Baldomero Toledo.

Att.: 12,468.