Almost one year to the day of Chicago’s now infamous “pretzels and fog” USOC win over Colorado, Chicago enters Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Sunday evening to face Colorado Rapids in what should be Chicago’s first real test against a viable opponent in the 2012 season. Colorado will look to erase the memory of last week’s drubbing at the hands of New York Red Bulls, as the Rapids fell in NY’s home opener 4-1 behind braces by Theirry Henry and Kenny Cooper. Chicago hopes to win back-to-back contests and remain undefeated in 2012 after drawing Montreal to open the season, then beating a damaged Philadelphia Union side in last week’s home opener. In this season’s unbalanced schedule, this will be the only time Chicago faces Colorado.
The Fire will be relying again on the Ghanaian pairing of Dominic Oduro and Patrick Nyarko offensively, with help from Seba Grazzini and Marco Pappa in the midfield. Oduro has collected both goals scored by the Fire in their first two games, but would do well to get additional offensive support from Chicago’s midfielders if they want to send a message to the league that their offense isn’t based solely on one player’s shoulders. Grazzini and Pappa, both of whom also looked strong against Philadelphia, should be able to press the issue against a Colorado defense that looked tentative and shaky against a nominal New York Red Bull side. Still, Oduro told MLSSoccer.com this week that he doesn’t expect the defensive issues Colorado had last weekend to be replicated. “I think they were just a little bit flat in terms of defending,” Oduro told MLSsoccer.com. “The defense is so quick. It’s really hard to get past those guys because they stick together in the back.”
Frank Klopas will also likely go with newcomer Paolo Tornaghi in net Sunday, as Sean Johnson returned to Fire training Wednesday after the USMNT U23 team was eliminated from Olympic contention earlier in the week at the hands of El Salvador. Klopas addressed the media regarding his 3rd year keeper earlier in the week, saying that Johnson, who hasn’t seen significant time in net since November, will need to ease into a return to the starting XI. “With that position, you have to be playing games, and he hasn’t played since November,” Klopas said. “We’ve talked of a plan to get Sean back in. We have a break after the Colorado game with some reserves matches — which I think will be beneficial for him — and I think we’ll go with that.”
On the other side of the ball, the Rapids will likely still be without their captain Pablo Matroeni, as he continues to have issues and undergoes testing related to a collision sustained in a March 10th match against Columbus. They will have midfielder Jeff Larentowicz back however, a key loss during the NY game as he sat out suspended due to a red card picked up the previous week against Philadelphia. Colorado will have the advantage of being at home, however Chicago holds the advantage against Colorado all-time, going 17-11-8, as well as winning the season series in 2011, drawing Colorado 1-1 at DSP, and winning 2-0 last August at Toyota Park.
RELATED: Want to read about the aforementioned Fire win over Colorado in USOC play last season? Check out Jeff Crandall’s article on chicago-fire.com. (and follow Jeff on Twitter @JefeCrandall)
http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/looking-back-2011-us-open-cup-qualifying-match-peoria
Image courtesy of chicago-fire.com
