The Men in Red faced the visiting San Jose Earthquakes in the second phase of their two game set this week. While the Earthquakes looked to build on their two-game winning streak in MLS play, the Fire looked to snap an eight-game winless streak, and ride the momentum gained by Tuesday’s win in PK’s over San Jose at Buck Shaw Stadium, giving them entry into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup proper.
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First Half
The first half saw the Chicago Fire return to a 4-4-2 lineup, with Diego Chaves back in the starting lineup after sitting out of the USOC match, and playing just 45 minutes in last week’s battle against Philadelphia due to a nagging foot contusion injury. Chaves was joined up top by new Fire acquisition Cristian Nazarit, who had previously played for the first time in a Fire uniform in the squad’s last reserve match, landing his first goal with the team. Also added to the lineup were Bratislav Ristic, playing the right back position typically occupied by Jalil Anibaba, and Logan Pause, who returned to the starting lineup for the first time since recovering from a hamstring injury sustained almost a month ago.
Possession was even in the first half, as teams traded off build ups and chances. Neither team had significant scoring opportunities, save a 6th minute heartbreaker for the Fire by Chaves, as the Uruguayan cut through defenders in the box and beat Jon Busch near post, only to have his attempt glance off both posts before bouncing away. It would prove costly in the long run, as another near goal by Chaves that could’ve ended up being a difference maker resulted in nothing more than a shot tally on a score sheet. Similarly, the Quakes had a good chance during the first 20 minutes when Lenhart beat Gonzalo Segares up the center, only to have a Wondolowski feed cross just out of his reach. A connection there could have easily resulted in a goal and early lead for San Jose.
Second Half
The second half started much like the first ended, with little happening until the 50th minute, when an Anthony Ampaipitakwong corner kick was headed home by an unmarked Ramino Corrales to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, however, Chicago would answer as Diego Chaves laid a pass off to Cristian Nazarit. Nazarit took an excellent shot that, like Chaves’ shot, deflected off both posts before Dominic Oduro, who correctly charged the net, was right there to blast home the equalizer.
Play would continue to volley back and forth until the 74th minute, when another defensive gaffe, this time by Yamith Cuesta, would give way to Chris Wondolowski putting home his 6th goal of the season, heading a delivery from Ampaipitakwong for San Jose’s second goal of the game.
In a favorable turn of events for the Fire, however, they would again even the score just six minutes later in the 80th minute, when Baggio Husidic, on just minutes before in place of Daniel Paladini, would deliver a pinpoint cross to defender Cory Gibbs, who would head home just the second goal of his career. The game would wrap up minutes later with the Fire walking away with another come-from-behind draw, but also another match without a win, extending their streak to an abysmal nine games.
There seems at this point to be more questions than answers for the Fire, as they close the book on the first third of their season. With just one win, now two months old, in their home opener against Sporting KC, Chicago has dealt with a number of issues. From struggling to find the net, to a shaky and constantly rotating midfield tandem, to defensive mistakes and questionable goalkeeping, the 2011 campaign seems to be one of continuing frustration. While the team on the field seems to have heart, and continues to battle back, it would be nice to see the team strike first in a match, and hold the lead without giving up goals due to defensive lapses and missed markings. Similarly, a more consistent goal scorer, or multiple scorers, would seemingly boost the confidence of the whole, as a lead preserved would increase morale and give the team a renewed incentive, not to fight back to retain competitiveness, but instead a intensity to hold onto a lead resulting in three points.
It’s safe to say, as has been the case already in the last few weeks, that Carlos de los Cobos could be on his last leg with the club. While last season, his first with the team and as an MLS manager, brought with it different challenges than this season, the similarities of CDLC’s coaching style, substitution habits, and seeming lack of strategic effectiveness are a continued plague on a team that had missed the playoffs just once prior to his tenure with the club.
Given that fact, as well as the constant reminders of moves made early on, magnified last night in the example of Chicago fan and supporter favorite Jon Busch returning to Chicago, only worsens his chances of making any positive impact in whatever time he has left with the club. Depending on who you ask, opinions there range anywhere from an immediate departure to him riding out the rest of his contract through the end of this season. Regardless, it’s apparent that while there are still adjustments necessary on the pitch, they pale in comparison to the pending change necessary in the manager position that could mean life or death to a team that is exponentially better than their 9-game winless streak or 1-4-6 record indicates.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
