Some 6 plus months ago, the Chicago Fire organization made a pledge to Section 8 Chicago, the Fire’s independent supporters association, that if Section 8 reached 800 season ticket holders, the Fire organization would send all season ticket holders at the start of the season to Columbus, better known in Chicago as “Firehouse East”. Indeed, reaching 800 season tickets in the supporters section would, for Chicago, be quite a feat, as 2010 saw just 389 season ticket holders in the supporters section, with most buying gameday tickets or flex-plan packages. Regardless, Section 8 not only broke the 800 barrier, but actually exceeded 1000 just a few games into the regular season. A worthy feat indeed.
As a season ticket holder in Section 8, and one of the fortunate to contribute to the magic 800 number, I was pleased and excited to go along with my fellow supporters to Columbus. The Fire came into the game winless in their last 11 games, although they were unbeaten in their last 3 contests in MLS play. Supporters in excess of 400 piled into buses Saturday night and Sunday morning, hoping they would head into town and give a boost to a team looking to spoil whatever home field advantage Columbus held. The outcome, in the waning minutes of stoppage time, would not disappoint. On a beautiful, nearly perfect mid-June Sunday afternoon, Chicago stepped on to the Columbus pitch, determined to change their fate for themselves, as well as their fans.
The Fire came out early with attacking on their minds, as they pushed the issue continually against the Crew. Possession favored Chicago, who looked far crisper than just a few days prior in Kansas City. Although there were some tired bodies on the pitch on both sides, the Fire were doing much better at connecting on passes than their previous outing, and looked like a team that was ready to end the streak that was hanging heavier on their backs with each successive game.
The game moved along in a back-and-forth battle of possession and chances, although the advantage on both continued to fall in Chicago’s favor. Columbus had one decent chance in the first half, a run that was effectively squashed by an errant shot that didn’t even require a save by Sean Johnson, and the best second half opportunities for the Crew came when their back was against the wall, down a goal and stoppage time ticking away quickly. A few decent crosses led way to possible headers that never found their mark. Indeed, for just the fourth time in club history, the Crew failed to register a shot on goal in the game.
Just prior to that, however, was where Chicago’s fortunes began, a streak was crushed, and 400+ faithful traveling fans saw what they’ve been waiting weeks for. After a volley forward by a Sean Johnson goal kick, Orr Barouch collected the ball just before sending to over to an open Dominic Oduro. Oduro, immediately swarmed in a double team, sent the ball back to Barouch, who used an amazing left-footed juke to get around Crew defender Julius James before sending a shot on goal against GK William Hesmer. Hesmer, who could not handle the shot, gave up a rebound that found itself at the feet of Cristian Nazarit. Nazarit sent it to the back of the net, putting home his first MLS goal, as well as the goal that would loosen the grip on an 11 game winless streak had been strangling the organization and fans with for weeks.
With the goal, the Chicago faithful erupted, sending Fire fans into a frenzy on the south end of Columbus Crew Stadium. Personally, I encountered no less than 15 high fives that I can remember, as the south end of Crew Stadium went up for grabs the moment the ball hit the back of the net. Section 8 supporters, who had been out-cheering Columbus fans since pre-game warm-ups, let the entire stadium know who was in the lead, and who they were there cheering for en masse, as they continued to chant and sing well after the game was over, while they waited to be released by Columbus in a mandatory hold-over for visiting club fan supporters.
For the second game in a row on the road, the Chicago squad, led by Frank Klopas, came over to Section 8 to show their appreciation for the traveling throngs, a move that is as much a mutual lovefest between team and fans as it is a top-notch class move on the part of the club and coach. There is a special relationship between Frank Klopas and Chicago Fire fans, and in moments like that, the mutual respect and admiration is not lost on anyone.
Worthy of noting, coming out of this game, were a few key points. First and foremost, I find that I must eat my words from earlier this week regarding Orr Barouch. Barouch, who found a potential game-winning shot strike the crossbar against Kansas City, and who has had varying degrees of effectiveness as a sub, again came on late in this game, only to have an impact both with another vicious strike that found the far side crossbar against the Crew, but also was a vital part of the game-winning goal. His charge at the net in the 90th minute led way to Nazarit’s game-winning rebound goal. Barouch was dangerous from the second he stepped onto the pitch, and a solid Sunday afternoon performance went far in changing the tide of a big picture perspective of the young striker. In the scheme of substitutions on Sunday, the strategy of staggering Barouch for Puerari, and the Nazarit for Chaves change paid dividends for the Fire, giving them the ball-handling of Barouch and the finishing of Nazarit that had previously been hinted at, yet not seen to its completion.
In addition, Klopas made a midfield change when Daniel Paladini, who it’s no mystery I’m a fan of, came on for Baggio Husidic. Husidic, in his first start since the Fire’s home game against Houston, played solid and created opportunities, attacking well in his midfield role. Paladini, being rested after playing 90 minutes twice in less than a week, also gave the Fire a positive spark, showing some of the same hustle and tenacity exhibited in their last home game against Seattle.
Finally, one would be remiss if not to mention the Fire’s defense and goalkeeping as of late. Since coming under the tutelage of Frank Klopas, the defense has shut out the opposition completely. The mark now stands at 286 minutes since the Fire last conceded a goal. Sean Johnson, who sat for a period of 6 matches this season, has shown the confidence and maturity that earned him a starting spot last season. Also, Jalil Anibaba, who did not dress for the previous four games in lieu of Bratislav Ristic, saw his first action since the team’s come-from-behind 2-2 draw of Toronto FC. As a whole, the defense played well, continuing to dominate on set pieces with their man-to-man marking. This is definitely a stronger defense than the one that had given up 19 goals on the season in the first 11 games.
Frank Klopas, in his postgame press conference, said, “I told the guys before the game that in the history of the Fire, we’ve had some great players but we’ve always been a team no one wanted to play against. We have that kind of personality and the players with this team. Let’s get back to what the Chicago Fire used to be.”
Indeed. Let this be a new beginning.
(images courtesy of Jeff Krause)
