Fire playoff hopes take huge hit

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FC Dallas forward Jackson Goncalves (6), right, controls the ball as he goes past Chicago Fire defenders during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Bridgeview, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011. FC Dallas won 2-1. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Updated: November 16, 2011 3:21PM

The Fire’s chances of making the Major League Soccer playoffs were bleak before Wednesday’s home game against FC Dallas. After a 2-1 defeat, they’re barely on life support.

The loss kept the Fire (8-10-16) six points behind the New York Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo, who hold the last two playoff spots. With two games left in the regular season, the Fire would have to win at D.C. United on Saturday and take its home finale against the Columbus Crew on Oct. 22 to even have a chance.

New York and Houston could pad their point totals in their last two games and kill off the Fire for good.

‘‘I’ve believed in this group, and I still do,’’ interim coach Frank Klopas said. ‘‘Sometimes in a long season, games like this happen, but we’ve got to finish strong. We’ve got to look forward. That’s all we can do.’’

FC Dallas, needing a victory to clinch a playoff spot, took the lead on a goal by Jackson in the 41st minute. FC Dallas (14-11-7) went up 2-0 in the 53rd on a bicycle kick by Daniel Cruz after Ricardo Villar’s corner kick

The Fire’s chances for a dramatic comeback diminished when Pavel Pardo drew a red card in the 79th minute, leaving his team a man short the rest of the way.

Still, Sebastian Grazzini’s 16-yard rocket in the 86th minute made it a one-goal game.

Grazzini returned to the starting lineup after being severely limited by a hamstring injury the previous three games. The Fire, however, was without midfielder Marco Pappa.

He was on national-team duty for Guatemala on Tuesday against Belize and couldn’t get back to Chicago in time.