GKs Hamid, Johnson look to make most of U.S. MNT opportunity

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson

U.S. Soccer Communications

The 21-year-old Bill Hamid and 22-year-old Sean Johnson are prime examples of young talent hoping to get noticed during the U.S. MNT’s January camp. Both have taken on significant roles with their respective MLS teams and also trained abroad during the offseason in Premier League environments. Now they want to have an impact at the international level.

Read more at USSoccer.com.

Fire GK Johnson to join U.S. MNT

Sean Johnson -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who is entering his third season in MLS, has been called up by U.S. National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for a January training camp.

The session starts on Jan. 3 as the U.S. prepares for a Jan. 21 match against Venezuela in Glendale, Ariz., followed by a Jan. 25 game against Panama in Panama City.

"I'm definitely excited about it," Johnson said. "There's a lot to look forward to in getting to play alongside the guys that are going to be there. We have two games to cap off the camp, so I think it will be good competition, and one that will help prepare for the season, as well."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire GK Johnson to train with Everton

Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson has noted in the past that he relates closely with Tim Howard's style of play in the goal. Now Johnson will train alongside the U.S. National Team and Everton goalkeeper.

The Fire announced on their official site Thursday that Johnson is taking part in a week-long training session at Everton's Finch Farm training ground starting this Sunday and running through Dec. 10.

"For a young goalkeeper like Sean, it's great that he's continuing to train and develop in the offseason," Fire head coach Frank Klopas said. "He'll be in a different environment where he can learn from a talented 'keeper in Tim Howard and go up against Premier League players. It benefits us as much as it does for him to have that experience."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire try to stay in hunt against Revs

Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The theme for the Chicago Fire will not change over the next several weeks. Chicago is in must-win mode with six regular-season matches remaining. And as long as the rest of the MLS field continues to oblige by keeping the Fire in the mix, that outside chance of a postseason berth remains.

The Fire (5-8-15, 30 points) host the New England Revolution (5-12-12, 27 points) this Sunday at Toyota Park, facing the only team remaining on Chicago's schedule that is in worse shape than the Fire.

"Now that we've put kind of a little run together, we've got to keep it going," Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson said. "We can't afford to take strides forward and then take steps back. We've got to keep pushing, pushing, pushing, until we get to where we want to be. And that's ultimately the playoffs."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire GK Johnson finding groove

Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Second-year Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson has looked more confident and more comfortable on the pitch.

Three victories in a four-game stretch also amplify Johnson's success. But even without those results, it has been apparent that Johnson's progression has made significant strides since the start of the season.

"The progression over last year to this year has gotten better, as a player and as a person," Johnson said. "Mentally and physically I've worked on my game, and I think it has been important for me to see different situations. Now I can kind of relate situations into my starting positions and things like that. I can only get better as I keep playing and get older."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire have no room for error

Dominic Oduro (left) -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire are hanging around, and considering where this team was in mid-August, it is surprising that a postseason berth still is a slight possibility.

The odds for the playoffs are slim as only six games remain and three other teams are ahead of the Fire in the postseason picture.

But does Chicago have one final gasp at making a realistic run for a playoff spot? Is there enough time to eliminate the current six-point gap that separates Chicago from a wild card berth?

"We've progressively been getting better, and the results have been getting better," Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson said following Chicago's shorthanded 3-2 victory against Chivas USA on Saturday. "But now is the time to turn it up and get three points every time out. We have six games and we need all six. That's our attitude."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire take hit with loss to Quakes

Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire's recent success hit a significant bump in the road as they fell to the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Chris Wondolowski had a goal and an assist and Ramiro Corrales also added a goal for San Jose, which ended a 13-game winless streak. The Fire's recent four-game unbeaten run came to a close, and what had been a positive stretch run took a wrong turn on Saturday.

"Dropping points now is not something we can afford," Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson said.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Klopas' Fire host confident Sounders

Fire's Diego Chaves -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The post-Carlos de los Cobos era begins for the Chicago Fire, and it is no secret that interim head coach Frank Klopas' squad has a deep hole to climb out of.

The Fire are 1-4-6 and have tied a franchise-worst nine-game winless streak (0-4-5). Chicago attempts to end the ongoing skid when it hosts Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at Toyota Park.

"Everybody's definitely wanting to get back on track," said Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who returned to the starting role last week for the first time since April 14. "We're always optimistic that we can progress toward getting to the playoffs. The reality is we're 1-4-6, so we've got to get out of this rut."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Floundering Fire confront Dynamo

Jalil Anibaba -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire's current three-game losing streak is creeping into the realm of historic proportions if the team cannot turn things around Saturday when it hosts the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Park.

One more loss would put this stretch among only a handful of four-game Fire droughts, the most recent being a four-game skid in May of 2007.

"The mentality's always strong, but the confidence, we've lost a little bit of," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said Friday following training.

The Fire (1-3-1, four points) have had to rely on some of their younger personnel to shoulder the load this season. Second-year goalkeeper Sean Johnson and 2011 first-round draft pick and defender Jalil Anibaba thrust themselves into starting roles. But both have been prone to some big mistakes in recent matches.

De los Cobos decided before last week's 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy to turn to 33-year-old goalkeeper Jon Conway, who will return to the starting lineup Saturday against Houston. De los Cobos said that Anibaba continues to maintain his starting right back role.

"I think patience is the key, for everybody," 12-year veteran Conway said. "A lot's expected of these young guys, but they are young guys. You've got to realize that being thrown into this sort of environment, this quick and as tough as it may be, sometimes it takes a little bit longer. For me, all I do is show up and train like I have for my whole career and just train hard, and maybe that translates over to them and they can take that from me. I have had a long run of things, fortunately, and maybe that helps them out with getting over what they have to get over."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Last-place Fire try to erase slide

Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos typically stresses the importance of maintaining a similar lineup from game to game, as any coach would prefer. But with back-to-back road losses and the team's worst defensive effort of the season on Thursday, De los Cobos might have some important personnel decisions to make as the Fire attempt to end their little skid when they host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday at Toyota Park.

The Fire posted road losses to Seattle Sounders FC on April 9 and the expansion Portland Timbers on Thursday, and the focus is on Chicago's recent shaky defensive efforts. Chicago allowed a season-high four goals against Portland in a 4-2 loss. Second-year goalkeeper Sean Johnson had one of his poorest efforts of the season against Portland, including the inability to secure the ball that directly led to the Timbers' third goal.

Following Saturday's training, De los Cobos was not ready to state a firm answer as to whether Johnson would return in the net on Sunday, or whether he is leaning toward 33-year-old Jon Conway to make his Fire debut.

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know," De los Cobos said. "Right now, I don't know. I need to think. I need to talk with [Sean] first. ... We have a good player like Jonny. I think Jonny is very good to stick with us because he can help transmit his experience to Sean and to help him mature."

One person who is back in the mix is center defensive back Josip Mikulic. The Fire missed the stability of Mikulic, who had an effective first two games of the season. Mikulic then injured his quad during 11-vs.-11 training the day before Chicago's Lamar Hunt U.S. Opener Cup qualifier against the Colorado Rapids on March 30.

"Right now, it's perfect," Mikulic said of his leg. "Not to worry -- I'm ready."

The Galaxy confirmed Saturday to ESPNChicago.com that Donovan (knee inflammation) is unavailable for Sunday's game. David Beckham (yellow card accumulation, suspended), Juninho (two yellows on Wednesday, suspended) and Jovan Kirovski (second game of two-game suspension) also are not available for the Galaxy (2-1-3).

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire GK Johnson named to U.S. team

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, coming off his first Major League Soccer season in 2010, begins the new year with a call-up to the U.S. National Team.

Former Fire and current U.S. head coach Bob Bradley named his 24-player U.S. camp roster on Tuesday as the Americans prepare for a Jan. 22 match against Chile at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The 21-year-old Fire goalkeeper Johnson gets his first look with the U.S. squad.

"The timing is right to assess many of the younger players and to broaden the player pool as we look forward to the next three years," Bradley said.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire fall to PSG in Sister Cities opener

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire simply did not look like they were ready for their own tournament.

Without a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes and Paris Saint-Germain capitalizing on one of its first-half chances, the French side held on the rest of the way for a 1-0 victory Wednesday in the first-ever Sister Cities International Cup at Toyota Park.

In the nightcap, Red Star Belgrade defeated Legia Warsaw, 1-0.

Sister Cities resumes Saturday, with the Fire taking on Legia Warsaw in a consolation match at 6 p.m. PSG faces Red Star Belgrade afterward to decide the Sister Cities champion.

For more, visit ESPNChicago.com.