SUPERLIGA PREVIEW: TIGRES VS. FIRE

$1 million prize at stake for Wednesday's winner

The Chicago Fire and Tigres UANL battle for the 2009 SuperLiga championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Toyota Park (televised on TeleFutura). The winner earns a $1 million prize, and the U.S.-Mexico bragging rights are always a sub-factor.

Quite a bit has happened since the last time the Fire faced Tigres during SuperLiga group play.

For starters, Chicago's defense has reached a higher level of late, posting three straight shutouts in Major League Soccer action. In comparison, Fire head coach Denis Hamlett was incredibly disappointed with the defensive unit following a 2-1 loss to Tigres on June 27.

Despite that defeat, Chicago still advanced to the SuperLiga semis. And since that match, the Fire have not allowed more than one goal in a single game.

"We have an older group. We know what it's about," Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch said regarding the team's success of late. "We know when it's time to get going. And this is our time to get going. Nobody needs to kick us in the (butt). We know. We're a very experienced group."

On the offensive side, it's still a bit of a work in progress without injured forward Brian McBride. But Chicago is finding enough to get by and post a positive result - a 2-0-1 record, to be exact in McBride's absence. In the case of the Fire's recent 1-0 victory against Real Salt Lake, forward Patrick Nyarko scored for a second straight home game, while fellow forward Chris Rolfe had an off night with some of his touches and decisions.

"Some guys have an off night, other nights you're good. But that's what the team's about - different guys step up," Hamlett said. "I still think the combination of (Rolfe) and Patrick caused (Real Salt Lake) some problems. I felt that we made sure they pulled their center backs out and got some isolations."

Over the weekend, Hamlett did not play MLS All-Stars Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Wilman Conde at midfield and defense, respectively. Blanco injured his ankle on Friday and Conde has had a lingering hamstring problem. Also missing Saturday was midfielder John Thorrington, who was serving a red card suspension. But Thorrington is now doubtful to participate this week with a right groin strain. And Conde's left hamstring strain lists him as out on the injury list.

These will be some difficult setbacks to try and get through the SuperLiga title match and especially on the road against the MLS-leading Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

If the Fire can somehow manage to overcome these obstacles for a championship trophy and $1 million, even Dr. Evil would be proud of their efforts.

PREVIEW: REAL SALT LAKE AT FIRE

Full defense is back as Chicago tries to climb back into 1st

Now that the CONCACAF Gold Cup is finished, the MLS contingent playing in the tournament is now back to the main day job.

Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause (pictured) is back from the U.S. Men's National Team and he and the Fire hope to win their second straight home game when they host Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park (televised on My50).

Chicago will be slightly shorthanded with the absence of midfielder John Thorrington, who was ejected during the Fire's scoreless draw against host Seattle Sounders FC last week. But the remainder of the team is available and looks to continue filling the long-term void of injured forward Brian McBride.

The Fire are 1-0-1 so far without him, and they face a team that they have had great success against in the past. Chicago is 2-0-2 against Real at home, 4-1-3 overall.

Chicago had an undefeated July that concluded with a hard-fought scoreless draw against Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field. Holding the Sounders scoreless was a strong feat, and the Fire extended their streak to 284 minutes without allowing a goal.

The 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Jon Busch, has posted three straight clean sheets, posting shutouts against Seattle, the San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew last month.

Real Salt Lake is coming off a hot-and-cold match against FC Dallas. Real fell behind, 2-0, at halftime and then posted four second-half goals for a 4-2 victory.

Real head coach Jason Kreis will not be on the sidelines for this week or next week against Seattle. He received a one-game suspension from an ejection and was suspended for another game following an outburst with officials during the Dallas game. Kreis also was fined $3,500. This is his third suspension this season, and the MLS disciplinary committee laid down the law for Kreis' latest actions.

SlideTackles.net prediction: The full squad is back, the injury report is empty (other than McBride obviously). And Chicago has a good opportunity to work its way into first place again in the Eastern Conference. The Fire are only one point behind the current East point leaders, the Columbus Crew, who have a difficult road test against the Colorado Rapids this weekend.

I'm eager to see if this is the start of a dominant change at home. You have three All-Stars (Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Wilman Conde and Bakary Soumare) coming off the Everton match. You have two Gold Cup participants (Gonzalo Segares and Logan Pause) who have been playing some good international competition. Can all of that translate into some crisp play on the field?

This is one of the few times during the season where everyone is here. Following Wednesday's SuperLiga final against Tigres, Blanco and Segares will head to World Cup qualifying for Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively. It's time to take advantage of the current situation. Chicago Fire 2, Real Salt Lake 0

FIRE 0, SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 0

Chicago earns draw, nearly pulls off upset in closing minutes

The script would have been perfect for Chicago Fire defender Brandon Prideaux:

The Renton, Wash., native playing in Seattle, in his final Major League Soccer season, in his 241st game without having scored a goal (an MLS record), and getting a chance in the closing minutes to put an end to that string and give Chicago a late lead in front of a packed Qwest Field.

In the 88th minute, Fire midfielder Justin Mapp took a corner kick and Prideaux cut to the near post. He struck the ball solidly, and Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller did not even move. Only Prideaux's header struck the crossbar, the ball hit the ground and was then cleared away.

The classic ending did not come to fruition. Instead, the Eastern Conference-leading Fire (7-3-8) took a smaller sense of satisfaction in managing a scoreless draw Saturday in front of 32,405 Sounders supporters.

Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch (pictured above) earned his sixth shutout of the season with five saves. His counterpart, Keller, made two saves for Seattle (7-3-8).

Chicago played for 5 minutes shorthanded when midfielder John Thorrington picked up a second yellow card in the 54th minute on a reckless tackle against Sounders midfielder Freddie Ljungberg. It appeared to be the boost Seattle was hoping for, until the 59th minute.

Ljungberg tried to draw a foul on Fire defender C.J. Brown near the top of the box. The referee felt Ljungberg took a dive and carded him. Ljungberg complained to the official and was handed a second yellow for dissent - a huge turn of events. Ljungberg got so close to the official that even Busch stepped in the way to break things up. From then on out, both teams played with 10 men on the pitch.

With fewer players, there was more space to work with, and the Sounders created the lion share of chances. In the 71st minute, Seattle's Nate Jaqua (pictured left) had a couple opportunities, one saved by Busch, and then the other cleared by Fire defender Gonzalo Segares for a Sounders corner. In the 80th minute, Brown gave Sounders forward Fredy Montero a substantial gap and Montero decided to take a long strike that hit the corner frame. Then in the 85th minute, Patrick Ianni headed the ball into the ground, it scooted past the defense and Busch, but the Fire's Chris Rolfe was there for the clear.

Seattle had the bulk of chances in the first half, as well. Busch averted a strong Seattle attack when he rose above Jaqua and Brown and punched the ball away on a Sounders free kick in the 32nd minute. Five minutes later, Jaqua was on the attack again. Montero provided a perfect looping cross to Jaqua for aheader. Busch made the save, Jaqua got the ball again, took another shot attempt, and Busch had a second save.

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Next up: The Fire host Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Toyota Park. The game is televised on My50.

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SlideTackles.net thoughts: There are boring scoreless draws and exciting ones, and this game clearly fit into the latter category. It had everything: strong technical play, some gritty play, momentum changers, ejections, a brief shorthanded situation working against the Fire, big saves, a raucous crowd and several scoring chances that hit the post or crossbar.

The Fire's frame strike was a bit unfortunate, and the three points would have been an impressive road accomplishment. Still, a scoreless draw has never occurred for Seattle this season, and without injured Brian McBride (shoulder injury), Logan Pause (U.S. Men's National Team) and Bakary Soumare (suspension - yellow card accumulation), that makes this effort a positive one.

Thorrington's energy was good, until he let that filter into his decision-making process. When he picked up his second yellow card in the 54th minute, it was one of those situations where you had a feeling that was going to happen. He had a bad angle on Ljungberg, who appeared as though he was anticipating the tackle from behind or to the side. It was a poor decision on Thorrington's part, and now Chicago is without his services next week. The exact same thing can be said about Ljungberg, and if he just walked away, the Sounders would have had 30 more minutes of a one-man advantage to work with.

The Fire offense had a few runs here and there in the final third, with a couple decent chances by Rolfe. But this game was all about the defense. Chicago faced the challenge of playing in the energetic Qwest Field environment and held the host Sounders scoreless. You can't ask for much more than that, though a Prideaux goal would have been poetic.

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Soumare added to MLS All-Star Team

Fire defender Bakary Soumare will join teammates Wilman Conde and Cuauhtemoc Blanco on the MLS All-Star Team for Wednesday's game against Everton FC. The game, which takes place at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, will be televised on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. (CST).

Soumare is replacing Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching's spot. Ching is being given a rest following a long stretch of matches with the U.S. Men's National Team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The league also announced Saturday that Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson is replacing New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph, who was diagnosed with bone bruising in his right knee.

EXAMINER.COM MLS POWER RANKINGS

The Chicago Fire maintained third place in Examiner.com's MLS Power Rankings through Week 18. CLICK HERE to read more.

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I will likely be providing in-game tweets (CorrSports) from the U.S. Men's National Team's CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match against Honduras on Thursday night at Soldier Field (6 p.m. start). Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause has earned some decent playing time, and goalkeeper Jon Busch just recently joined the U.S. MNT.

~ Charlie Corr
Major League Soccer Examiner
SlideTackles.net creator and editor

MLS NOTEBOOK: FIRE'S BLANCO NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Goalkeeper Busch joins U.S. MNT for Gold Cup

Read my Examiner.com MLS Notebook, which includes mention of Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco's MLS Player of the Week honor and goalkeeper Jon Busch's call-up to the U.S. Men's National Team for Thursday's CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal at Soldier Field.

~ Charlie Corr
Major League Soccer Examiner
SlideTackles.net creator and editor

FIRE 2, COLORADO RAPIDS 1

Chicago snaps 3-game skid, jumps up to 1st in the East

Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa and defender Wilman Conde provided more offense than the team had during its three-game losing streak as Chicago topped the Colorado Rapids, 2-1, on Saturday in Major League Soccer action at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

"The guys stuck together, played as a group, and when we do that we're a good team," Fire head coach Denis Hamlett said.

The win not only snapped a three-game skid for the Fire (6-3-6), but it put Chicago back at the top of the Eastern Conference with 24 points (D.C. also has 24, but through 17 games played). The victory also erased a nearly decade-long drought in Colorado - a dismal 0-6-4 mark in their previous 10 road matches against the Rapids.

Conversely, the Rapids (5-4-6) dropped their first home game of the season.

Chicago played a pretty much flawless first half of soccer, earning the 2-0 lead with Pappa's and Conde's goals in the 30th and 37th minutes, respectively, and holding the Rapids to zero shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.

Jacob Peterson finally broke through for Colorado in the 76th minute with an unassisted goal.

Chicago's defense clamped down on Rapids forward Conor Casey, who made a long-awaited return after playing in the FIFA Confederations Cup. Casey had only one shot on goal in the 76th minute, just before Peterson's tally.

Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch made three saves and the Rapids' Matt Pickens made one.

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Next up: The Fire host the defending champion Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Toyota Park. The game is televised on ESPN2.

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Fire notes:
• Libertyville native, University of Illinois-Chicago product and Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic earned the first assist of his MLS career with his center pass to Pappa for the team's 30th-minute goal.
• Fire defender Logan Pause is with the U.S. Men's National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He earned his first international cap and got the start during Saturday's 4-0 victory over Grenada in Seattle. Pause also assisted Robbie Rogers' 60th-minute goal that gave the U.S. a 3-0 lead.

FIRE'S BUSCH, PAUSE GET THE CALL

Chicago duo named to U.S. MNT's Gold Cup roster

The Chicago Fire's Jon Busch and Logan Pause were named to the U.S. Men's National Team's 23-man roster, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday. A total of 15 current MLS players are on the squad (click here for full story at Examiner.com).

Pause is looking for his first international cap. Busch already has one, but he is playing the role of alternate for the moment. Three goalkeepers are on the roster, but only two will be with the team to start when the Americans face Grenada in Seattle on July 4. Busch will stay with the Fire unless there is a suspension or injury.

FIRE 3, CHIVAS USA 2

Blanco’s 2 PKs, Nyarko’s game-tying goal sink host Chivas

Was it a push or wasn’t it a push? Brian McBride sold it, and that’s all that mattered for the Chicago Fire. On the road, whether it’s conventional, or panicky, or lucky, a win is a win. And they did it on the home grounds of the top point leaders in Major League Soccer.

The Fire scored two goals late in the second half and defeated Western Conference-leading Chivas USA, 3-2, on Thursday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored two penalty kicks - one in stoppage time in the second half - and Patrick Nyarko contributed a game-tying goal as the undefeated Fire improved to 5-0-6 and 21 points to extend their Eastern Conference lead. Chivas USA (7-2-3, 24 points) lost for the first time at home this season.

In the closing moments, McBride drew a foul from Mariano Trujillo. Replays showed there might have been some minimal contact. In any event, Blanco took the PK for the second time past Chivas goalkeeper Zach Thornton for the victory, capping off a perfect 3-0 road trip. Blanco now joins the Mexican National Team in preparation for training for a World Cup qualifier and will not be available Sunday when the Fire host FC Dallas at Toyota Park.

Blanco’s other PK came in the 25th minute. Before netting the goal, Wilman Conde’s jersey was pulled by Chivas defender Shavar Thomas on a ruling that was assisted by the sideline referee.

The turning point of the match was when Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch was called for a second yellow card in the 63rd minute. Chivas had a 2-1 lead at that point and actually continued to find some chances to add to the lead.

But in the 89th minute, Chicago came up big with two of their second-half substitutes. Midfielder Justin Mapp played a ball from the left side that ricocheted off of Shavar Thomas and went through to Nyarko, who netted the game-tying goal past Thornton.

The Fire’s offensive efforts erased some lackluster defensive moments in the first half that allowed Chivas to take a 2-1 lead into the half. In the 16th minute, Paulo Nagamura had space to work with and made a deep, right-footed strike that tailed slightly away from Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch’s left, but was plausible to make a save. In the 35th minute, Fire defender Bakary Soumare was called for a trip against Maykel Galindo. And in the 37th minute, Galindo took the PK for a 2-1 lead.

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Next up: The Fire return to Toyota Park for the first time since May 9 when they host FC Dallas at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31. The game is televised on My50.

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SlideTackles.net thoughts: Chicago pulled a magic rabbit out of a hat and everything worked in the Fire’s favor when it looked like they were in line for their first defeat of the season.

For most of the game, Chivas defended the likes of McBride and Chris Rolfe quite well, limiting their touches. And on the Fire defense, they started to fall back into some isolated mistakes or shortcomings in marking that nearly cost them as a whole. They gave up too much space for Nagamura’s deep strike, and Busch knows he probably should have stopped the shot, too. Then there was Soumare’s decision to lunge at Galindo resulting in a penalty. It was not necessary because he had some good help to his right from John Thorrington.

All that said, the Fire pressed on, and credit head coach Denis Hamlett with making some key substitutions in Nyarko and Mapp for Tim Ward and Marco Pappa, respectively. Libertyville native and UIC product Baggio Husidic made his debut and made a good run in the 87th minute, just before Nyarko’s game-tying heroics.

The Fire should be in decent shape for Sunday’s game against Dallas, despite the absence of Blanco. The PK attempts were clutch, and he made a couple of passes late in the game that were on cue. But beforehand, his passing was sub par and his field vision was off the mark. Mapp can definitely play more of a role against Dallas.