The mantra for the Chicago Fire going into Sunday’s match is simple, and it’s similar to week’s past: they must win. In a mostly uneventful four weeks since Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas took over, there have been wholesale changes to Chicago’s mindset and strategy. These changes, however, have led to little change on the pitch, as Chicago has just one win against four draws under Klopas. Many see this as a glaring negative, while others continue to see the small steps towards improvement that the team has made over the last few weeks. It’s a matter of whether the Fire fan’s glass is half-empty, or half-full.
What’s certain going into Sunday afternoon is that while the Fire desperately need three points to jumpstart some type of run of games resulting in point accumulation, they may have a shot against a depleted, stumbling New York Red Bulls side. New York, who are playing on a day less rest than the Fire, and have traveled nearly cross country Friday to get to Chicago, could be coming in at a disadvantage on Sunday.
The team is already struggling, having been dominated in a 4-2 loss to Seattle earlier in the week. The team is also down players still on Gold Cup duty (Tim Ream, Juan Agudelo, Rafa Marquez). In addition, Luke Rodgers, who’s having a solid year up top opposite Thierry Henry, is listed as out due to injury for the game. While the Red Bulls currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with 23 points, they’ve had just one win themselves in the last nine games. Chicago, in 38 meetings with the Red Bulls, holds the advantage with a 20-11-7 record, with 11 of those wins coming in Chicago. New York will rely heavily on Thierry Henry, who will be back from his one game suspension for an altercation in Portland. Up top with Henry should be Dwayne DeRosario, filling in for the injured Rodgers. If Chicago can contain them (and they should be able to), the Fire defense can keep New York’s scoring under wraps. Then it becomes a matter of what Chicago can do offensively.
On the other side of the pitch, Chicago’s biggest opportunities will come on set pieces. New York has been horrendous on defending set pieces, allowing three of Seattle’s four goals on Thursday from dead ball play. If Chicago can incorporate Daniel Paladini and Marco Pappa effectively on free kicks, goals are definitely possible. Chicago will again be missing Cristian Nazarit, who is serving the second game of a two game suspension. Klopas has plenty to choose from in the attacking end, and it’s likely that we see Marco Pappa back in the Starting XI. Highly probable is a lineup including Chaves and Oduro up top, with Pappa and Patrick Nyarko on the wings, and Daniel Paladini with either Corben Bone or Baggio Husidic filling the central mid roles. Klopas also knows that he has Orr Barouch and Gabriel Ferrari at his disposal. I tend to think that Barouch and Ferrari may come into the game Sunday in reduced sub roles, but start on Tuesday in the Fire’s USOC game against the Rochester Rhino’s. Being that this will be their 3rd match in eight days, it’s likely that Chicago goes after maximum points Sunday, while fielding a younger but more energetic squad on Tuesday.
Chicago can come away from their home pitch Sunday with a win if the play a mistake-free game. They’ve shown this season that they can control play, possess the ball, and move into the attacking third with speed and play creation. If they put the pieces together Sunday, they will come away with a win. Perhaps their best strategy will be to come out strong and aggressive, and try to catch a New York side on their heels who’ve already bounced off the ropes once this week. It will just be a matter of whether or not they can deliver a knockout punch.
Image courtesy of Chicago Fire
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