The Chicago Fire lost to Real Salt Lake 2-1 last weekend in a match where they created plenty of chances, but couldn’t find the back of the net from the run of play. That marks two losses in a row and puts pressure on the team to get a result at Yankee Stadium Friday night when they face New York City FC for the second time this season. The Fire previously beat NYCFC 1-0 at Toyota Park, however Friday will be a test, as they play on a smaller pitch that will challenge their penchant to use width in the attack. Here are some things to watch for in Fireland:
Chicago struggles without David Accam on the wing:
For at least seven years, the Fire have relied on strong wing play to get results. Patrick Nyarko, Gonzalo Segares, Marco Pappa, and recently, Grant Ward and David Accam have been used to stretch defenses and create space for slower players. Accam was suspended for the RSL match. It was very telling that many of the Fire’s chances in that game came from Joevin Jones and Lovel Palmer overlapping on the wings. Chicago needs width to open up the field for Shaun Maloney and Harry Shipp. Relying on their outside backs leaves them open to counterattacks, and RSL punished the Fire twice on the counter. Relying too much on Accam is not the best solution for Chicago, and is similar to their reliance on Patrick Nyarko for a few seasons when their offensive creativity was lacking.
Consistency on the back line is a very good sign:
After last season’s revolving door of center backs, it’s a relief to see Jeff Larentowicz and Adailton forming a solid partnership in the middle. This stability will allow Frank Yallop to tweak his left and right back approach depending on form and opposition. It appears Chicago have finally found the right formula on the back line.
Finishing chances is a major issue. Again.
Chicago has only scored once in their last three matches. All three of their wins have come with a man advantage. In two of those 11v10 victories, the Fire still only scored one goal. It seems like beating a dead horse at this point, but someone’s going to have to start putting the ball in the net. Harry Shipp and Shaun Maloney may have to start shouldering the burden because none of the strikers look like a legitimate options at this point.
Mike Magee is training, and Mike Stephens is almost back:
Fire fans – Do not get your hopes up too highly, but feel free to smile a lot. Magee is training, but it’s still non-contact, and his knee is still bothering him according to Yallop. After his lackluster season playing injured last year, it would be wise not to rush him back, even with the terrible performance from the team’s current strikers. Yallop and Maloney have both alluded to Magee and Nyarko’s returns as being as good as summer transfers, but relying on two players who have both been through surgery is just as bad as relying on unknown summer transfers to fix the striker woes.
Michael Stephens is nearly fit after his ankle sprain, and he may be ready to play Friday night. His technical ability would come in handy on the narrow pitch at Yankee Stadium.
Saint Louis Update:
Patrick Doody and Alec Kann have been getting tons of minutes at Saint Louis FC. Doody has been taking free kicks in many games. Kann posted a clean sheet with six saves, including a highlight reel triple save last weekend and was named to the USL Team of the Week.
The Fire take on NYCFC at Yankee Stadium Friday at 7pm EST. You can catch the game on Univision Deportes.
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
