NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Ticker) -- Ante Razov had a hand in all three goals as the Chicago Fire blanked the MetroStars, 3-0, to climb within two points of the Eastern Conference leaders.

Razov collected two goals and an assist to move into a tie for fourth in the MLS scoring race with 26 points. He helped the Fire register their first regulation win since June 2.

Off a free kick from the right flank, Razov curled a left-footed into service in the box that was flicked on by Josh Wolff and hit Fire defender Jim Curtin in stride. Marked by defender Mike Petke, Curtin knocked the ball into the net from five yards after bringing it down with this chest.

It was Curtin's first MLS goal and ended Chicago's 196-minute scoring drought.

The MetroStars went into the break having already made a substitution. In the 41st minute, midfielder-forward Dustin Sheppard made his MLS debut, coming on for striker Mamadou Diallo, who was involved in physical challenges against Fire defenders all afternoon and limped off with a hamstring strain.

Chicago padded its lead four minutes after halftime. Dema Kovalenko launched a break by sending a long ball to Wolff in the MetroStars' half of the field. Metros defender Ted Chronopoulos missed the ball on a challenge, allowing Wolff to run free into the box and serve a perfect pass across the box to Razov. At the far goalpost, an unmarked Razov calmly deposited the ball into the back of the net for his 10th goal.

Tim Howard kept the deficit at 2-0 for the Metros with saves on two more efforts by Razov. But a defensive lapse by Howard's teammates allowed the Fire to get a third goal three minutes later. Petke headed a ball back toward his 'keeper, allowing Razov to run onto it and send a lob over a helpless Howard for his second goal of the game.

Zach Thornton made to make just four saves for his fifth shutout of the season and 34th of his career.

Chicago took three of four meetings from the Metros. The lastest win was the 79th for Fire coach Bob Bradley (79-49-14), moving him ahead of MetroStars counterpart Octavio Zambrano for third on the all-time MLS list.