Adu outplayed by Ralph; Jamaican scores 3 times in shutout.

Byline: Dave Surico

CHICAGO _ Freddy Adu was in the spotlight before D.C. United met the Fire Saturday at Soldier Field, but it was his Chicago counterpart Dumani Ralph who lit up the place.

The 2003 Major League Soccer rookie of the year continued a hot sophomore start with his first professional hat trick to lead the Fire to a 3-0 victory over United in front of a crowd 25,810.

"(Ralph is) a confident kid when he's in and around the box," coach Dave Sarachan said. "He strikes the ball well with both feet and he's a powerful kid. You add all that up and you're going to get goals."

The opening goal came after a hustling play from midfielder Nate Jaqua, who saved the ball from going out 35 yards from the D.C. goal. Andy Williams received a pass in the midfield and sent the ball down the right side to Ralph.

The Jamaican native faked past defender David Stokes and drove to the side of the goal. He had time to settle before putting the ball past goalkeeper Troy Perkins from a sharp angle in the 15th minute.

"They were all from acute angles," said Ralph of the goals, which tied him with Los Angeles' Carlos Ruiz in the MLS scoring race. "Like coach says, sometimes I overdo it. But the confidence I have, that once I get in the area, if I hit it good, I think I have a good chance."

Adu was the reason for the 10th largest lakeside crowd in Fire history. But those who expected something spectacular from the 15-year-old phenom were disappointed. The Fire knocked down Adu six times, applying a physical defensive philosophy that kept him in check.

Still, he had his moments.

In the 42nd minute, Adu split defenders with a nice ball to Ronald Cerritos who fired a shot from 16 yards out that Fire goalkeeper Henry Ring rejected. A few minutes later, Adu got a step on defender Kelly Gray and came in from the right end line. Ring slid out to take the ball off Adu's foot.

"I tried to take it and slide it right under the keeper and he made a great save," Adu said. "I took it just a little too far ahead of me so I had to toe-poke it."

For Fire defender Jim Curtin and his backline mates, mission stop Adu was accomplished.

"He was pretty good today," Curtin said. "He didn't get a chance to turn and run at us. We got a body on him, and knocked him around a little bit.

"You see flashes. He turned the corner on Kelly Gray and kind of left him in the dust. Kelly and I both looked at each other and kind of smiled. `He's fast.' At the same time we both said the same thing. For a 15-year-old to be doing what he's doing out there is pretty impressive."

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(c) 2004, Chicago Tribune.

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