Fire scores often and early

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Updated: December 1, 2011 5:27AM

The Fire is still a long shot to make the Major League Soccer playoffs, but the much-improved team isn’t dead yet.

The 3-2 victory Sunday over the New England Revolution was the Fire’s fourth in its last five MLS games, and the team is six points away from the last playoff spot with five games to go.

‘‘A great win with a lot on the line,’’ Fire interim coach Frank Klopas said. ‘‘It was do-or-die for both clubs.’’

The Fire (6-8-15) came ready to play, scoring three times in the first 30 minutes before an announced crowd of 14,576 at Toyota Park It was the best start in a home league game for the Fire in three years.

But sloppy defense led to Ryan Guy scoring twice for the Revs (5-13-12). His first goal came in the 90th minute, his second in stoppage time.

‘‘We made it tough on ourselves at the end, but it’s still a win,’’ said forward Patrick Nyarko, who set up the first Fire goal and scored the last, his first of the season.

A sharp Logan Pause pass freed up Nyarko for a charge into the box in the fifth minute. Nyarko tripped over scrambling Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis, setting up a penalty kick for Sebastian Grazzini.

Pause and Grazzini assisted on the second goal four minutes later, and Dominic Oduro had a great finish for his 11th of the season. Oduro lost his shoe on the play, in which he faked Reis off his feet and was rewarded with an open net. With the goal, Oduro moved into a tie for fourth in the chase for the Golden Boot, which goes to the top goal-scorer in MLS. He’s two behind Dwayne De Rosario of D.C. United.

Nyarko, who leads the team with seven assists, finally scored himself after taking a pass from Oduro at full speed in the 30th minute. A tentative Reis challenged him at the top of the box, but Nyarko got the ball by him for an unassisted score.

‘‘We came out real sharp,’’ Nyarko said. ‘‘We knew when to attack. It was probably our best first half of the season.’’

But the Fire slowed down after Grazzini developed tightness in his left hamstring. Klopas took him out in the 25th minute, and Grazzini’s status for Wednesday’s start of a three-game road trip at Real Salt Lake is uncertain.

‘‘The game changed after Grazzini came out,’’ Klopas said. ‘‘He’s an important player. He was coming off a good week of training because he wanted to make a difference — and he did. Hopefully, he can recover.’’

Grazzini, speaking through a translator, hoped so, too.

‘‘I hope to be back because I want to play,’’ Grazzini said, ‘‘and I know my team needs me.’’