Gargan faces another former foe

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Updated: November 4, 2011 11:59AM

Recently acquired defender Dan Gargan faced one of his former teams Sunday and played a big role in the Fire snapping its 10-game winless streak. On Saturday, Gargan faces another when the Colorado Rapids — the defending champions of Major League Soccer — visit Toyota Park.

Frank Klopas, the Fire technical director and interim head coach, picked up Gargan on July 28 in a trade that sent Dasan Robinson to Toronto FC. Gargan played all 90 minutes of the last three matches at right back and scored the insurance goal that clinched a 2-0 victory over Toronto. He’d like to play as big of a role in a victory over the Rapids.

The Fire (3-7-15) has nine MLS matches left to get into playoff ­position. The club had the bulk of its MLS-record 15 ties before Gargan arrived.

“I didn’t know what to make of it,” he said. ‘‘Obviously this was a tough team to beat, but something had to be missing because they weren’t winning those games.”

Gargan, 28, brought the Fire some much-needed experience. Drafted by Colorado in 2005, he was a frequent starter for the Rapids through 2008. After Gargan underwent offseason shoulder and knee surgery, he was traded to Chivas USA. Gargan retired rather than report to the California-based team.

“A shocking turn of events,” Gargan said, “plus I was a lot younger then and had some personal issues.”

Gargan came out of retirement to play for the minor-league Puerto Rico Islanders in 2009 before joining Toronto FC. That club has ­undergone massive roster changes, with Gargan being one of the latest to go. Only nine players were invited back from last season’s team, and 39 players have been on the team this season.

“I was happy to leave,” said Gargan.

Klopas was happy to get him.

“He’s just a solid guy who’s competitive, has a great attitude every day and can play different positions,’’ Klopas said.

Both believe the Fire can finish strong, win the U.S. Open Cup and make postseason play in MLS. The Fire has an Open Cup semifinal match against the minor-league Richmond Kickers on Tuesday at Toyota Park.

“We’re eight points out of the playoffs,” Gargan said. “We definitely have a chance to get into them, and if we can get some wins going into the playoffs, we’ll be a dangerous team.”

NOTE: The Fire announced Friday that it traded its allocation spot with the Seattle Sounders for a third-round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and the Sounders’ spot in the allocation order. With the trade, the Fire acquired the sixth spot in the allocation order, but with Seattle’s addition of Sammy Ochoa, the Fire holds the fifth allocation spot for incoming U.S. national-team players.

The Fire now has five picks in the SuperDraft: one first-rounder, two second-rounders and two third-rounders.