Saturday evening will find two teams entering Toyota Park, each looking to grab their second win of the season. A possibly fatigued Vancouver Whitecaps FC, having just faced Montreal Impact on Wednesday in the NCC semifinals and touting a record of 1-4-3, will be visiting the injury-laden Chicago Fire, 1-3-3, who’ve seen a full week of rest after drawing on the road last Saturday against the current MLS Cup champ Colorado Rapids.
The Whitecaps, who needed extra time to defeat the Impact on aggregate scoring Wednesday in the Voyageurs Cup, are looking to snap a seven game winless streak in MLS play. Fitness is sure to be a factor for Vancouver, who is still missing key components of their midfield and defense. Striker Eric Hassli is available, who sat out of last weekend’s Columbus game due to suspension, and who saw less than full-time Wednesday.
Teitur Thordarson is bound to make some changes to his normal lineup, however, perhaps using some starters in a substitute role if necessary, given the Whitecaps run of three games in seven days. Also likely missing from Saturday’s lineup will be Atiba Harris, former Fire midfielder John Thorrington, and Michael Nanchoff, all out with injuries, and it’s not likely that captain Jay DeMerit will see time either, as he continues to recover from an early season groin injury.
The Fire have been guilty of some patchy defense and midfield play this season, as Carlos de los Cobos looks to change that trend going into Saturday’s match. Having seen a bit more success with last week’s 4-1-4-1 formation against the Rapids, de los Cobos is likely to mirror his move against the Rapids this weekend. It appears that captain Logan Pause will again miss action with a bothered hamstring, although it sounds as if veteran defender Cory Gibbs, as well as Josip Mikulic may both be ready for action.
Diego Chaves, current runner-up in the Golden Boot race and the Fire’s leading scorer, may see time at the top alone again this week, as it would seem a similar formation will land Gaston Puerari, and either Dominic Oduro or Patrick Nyarko in a wing role. Nyarko will likely see playing time, although he may be seen in limited action similar to last weekend, as he fought sickness the second part of this week. One also has to wonder if Colombian sensation and new Fire signing Cristian Nazarit will see match time, as he would likely come in to replace Chaves in the late going if necessary.
With both teams desperate for three points, it should prove to be an interesting game. Vancouver, previously unexposed to the fury that is Section 8 Chicago, will have to stay incredibly focused and efficient in their ball movement and fitness, as fatigue is sure to be a factor as the game wears on. Chicago, on their home pitch again, will be looking to capitalize early and often on Vancouver. Both teams know they need to walk away with points, but if Chicago’s defense can solidify and their midfield can hold possession, that will be the determining factor in the result of this game. This will truly be a game that, if Chicago does not win, will be said that they beat themselves, rather than the Whitecaps beating them.
Final score: Chicago
(image courtesy of chicago-fire.com)
