Chicago and Salt Lake Clash in Midweek Battle

Wednesday night, Chicago returns to Toyota Park for a mid-week matchup against 2009 MLS Cup champs Real Salt Lake. Chicago is riding a 5-game unbeaten streak, while Salt Lake has two losses in their last five games. Both teams, however, will come to Bridgeview fielding depleted sides.

Real Salt Lake will be missing Jean Alexandre, who was given a one-game suspension and fine by MLS for his tackle during Saturday’s match against DC United. Similarly, it was announced late Tuesday evening that Chicago Fire forward Cristian Nazarit received a 2-game ban for an errant elbow on a 50/50 challenge against New England Saturday night. Couple that with the straight red card issued to Thierry Henry for a slap to the back of the head of Portland’s Adam Moffat, and the game-changing “dive heard round the world” by Charlie Davies (at least his second this year), and you’ve got a league office with quite a bit of egg on their face. That’s a discussion for another place and time though.

The suspension of Alexandre finds RSL with just one healthy forward coming into Wednesday night. For Chicago, Logan Pause is listed as questionable after sustaining some bumps and bruises in Saturday’s game against the Revolution.

Just a few days ago, I commented about some changes I thought may suit the Fire well for the near future. It appears that some of those lineup changes may transpire out of necessity in the next few days, with Chicago facing Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, followed by New York Red Bulls on Sunday. Immediately after, the team will travel to Rochester to take on the Rhinos in US Open Cup play. To be sure, it’s going to be a busy seven days for the Fire.

That being the case, it’s safe to say that the departure of Nazarit could cause the likely pairing of Diego Chaves and Dominic Oduro up top. Gabriel Ferrari and Orr Barouch are sure to be second half subs, unless Frank Klopas feels that Dominic Oduro can go 90 minutes up top the way he has on the wing as of late. Either way, chances are good that we see an insertion of Barouch for Chaves sometime around the 65^th minute, as Chaves seems no closer to having 90 minutes in the tank, and Barouch has become a worthy sub to bring some life to the forward slot. After his performance late in the second half, one can only hope we see more of Ferrari as well.

Midfield will certainly shake out much different than it has over the last few weeks, as Marco Pappa, who is now back from international duty, will likely not start. Klopas stated Tuesday that Pappa would dress, but likely would begin the game as a sub. It’s unlikely, but possible to think that Frank didn’t already have knowledge that Nazarit would be out of the lineup for the next two games. In light of that, it will be interesting to see what kind of midfield set Klopas employs at gametime against RSL. We’re certain to see Patrick Nyarko, who has come back with a vengeance since returning from a concussion injury a few weeks ago. Nyarko’s movement on the left wing the last three games has been a build-up in intensity, and he’s sure to bring that same intensity to the pitch Wednesday.

Central midfield will be missing Fire captain Logan Pause, thanks to a hamstring tweak and concussion symptoms. Pause took one on the head Saturday night in the first half, and it was evident to anyone watching that it impacted his play. He stayed on for the full 90, but did not train Tuesday, and is likely not to dress for the match. That could potentially answer the question of the attacking mid battle going on between Baggio Husidic and Daniel Paladini. The two midfielders have been interchangeable in the lineup the last two games, as Paladini has come in as a substitute for Husidic against both Columbus and New England. There’s a good chance we see them side-by-side Wednesday night. With Marco Pappa likely not to start, it’s also possible that we see Corben Bone reprise his right wing role, opposite Patrick Nyarko. Pappa would likely be brought in as a second half sub for either Nyarko or Bone, depending on who would need it or how the game plays out, or we could also see Bratislav Ristic, although he has been favored in a defensive role rather than midfield.

Defensively, Chicago is likely to look as it did against New England and Columbus, with Gonzalo Segares and Jalil Anibaba occupying the outside defense, and Yamith Cuesta and Cory Gibbs in the middle. Josip Mikulic, who is now off the injured list, was not yet up to match fitness as of Saturday’s game. A defensive switch could also (and perhaps more likely) find Ristic coming in if necessary, although it seems the m.o. of Frank Klopas to use his three subs on his two forwards and one midfielder. So far, it’s a strategy that, while perhaps not winning the Fire many games, has yielded positive results in tempo, speed, and intensity in the late going. Hopefully it will help yield the Fire three points on their home pitch in this weekday dual against Real Salt Lake.

CHICAGO FIRE – QUESTIONABLE: MF Marko Maric (L deltoid sprain); MF Logan Pause (R hamstring strain/concussion)

REAL SALT LAKE – DOUBTFUL: MF Arturo Alvares (R hamstring strain); FW Paulo Jr. (L hamstring strain); DF Chris Wingert (R hamstring strain)

SUSPENDED: RSL: Jean Alexandre (through June 22)

WARNINGS: (suspended next yellow card): CHI: Dominic Oduro, Daniel Paladini, Gonzalo Segares

Image courtesy of mlssoccer.com