Fire not progressing in standings since midseason coaching switch

Frank Klopas -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas and former head coach Carlos de los Cobos have been at the helm for 11 games apiece this year. So this is an opportune moment to take a look at how things have changed -- or not changed -- under their leadership this season.

De los Cobos was fired on May 30 after 11 matches and a 1-4-6 record (nine points). He was dismissed following a 0-4-5 stretch that included a winless May against teams such as the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Klopas has not fared much better. As the interim head coach for the Fire's past 11 matches, the team is 1-3-7 (10 points). His club is dead last in the Eastern Conference with a 2-7-13 record and 19 points. And with a double-digit points deficit separating Chicago from a playoff position based on the current standings, the Fire likely will miss the postseason for a second straight year.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire dismiss Carlos de los Cobos

Carlos de los Cobos -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- With the Chicago Fire off to their worst start in franchise history, the team fired head coach Carlos de los Cobos on Monday.

De los Cobos' squad has posted a 1-4-6 record this year and is in the midst of a nine-game stretch without a victory, tying for the longest winless streak in team history.

Fire technical director Frank Klopas takes over as interim head coach. Klopas was a coaching possibility following the 2009 season, but the squad eventually decided on de los Cobos as its next head coach heading into the 2010 campaign to replace Denis Hamlett.

The Fire posted a 10-16-15 record during de los Cobos' tenure, and Chicago missed the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history in 2010. Chicago is second-to-last in the Eastern Conference through a third of the 2011 season, and the team's postseason hopes already are fading as the Fire nurse a double-digit points deficit behind the East-leading Philadelphia Union.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire look for multiple points at Union

Fire goalkeeper Jon Conway -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Nearly two months have passed since the Chicago Fire's last victory, and it is almost a moot point that Chicago has not lost, either, in its past four matches.

Chicago travels to PPL Park in Chester, Pa., to take on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, and the Fire are hoping to get more than a point against the second-place team in the Eastern Conference.

"We are close to winning," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "I believe in this. We are close to winning."

Close is an accurate description for a team that is tied for the league lead with five draws. But Chicago also is one of only three teams with just one victory on the season (Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps being the other two).

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire retain central midfield even if captain Pause is ready to go

Fire's Logan Pause -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- In the mind of Chicago Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos, even the team's captain will have to earn his starting spot back.

Fire defensive midfielder Logan Pause has missed the last several weeks because of a hamstring injury, paving the way for Daniel Paladini and Corben Bone to take starting roles in the central midfield for the past three matches.

Pause trained heavily on Thursday and appears to be nearing a return, perhaps this Saturday when the Fire (1-3-5) travel to Philadelphia (4-3-2). But De los Cobos said that he is going to continue with the midfield he has penciled in over the past several weeks, even if Pause is ready to go.

"I want to keep the guys who are playing because they are making a good job," said De los Cobos, whose team has posted a 0-0-3 mark during Pause's absence. "Logan is always important for me. For that reason, he is our captain. He was three weeks out and the team is playing good. I always need Logan. I think he's a good leader with the group. I'm sure that he's a smart person and a smart guy, and he understands the situation. He will work for returning to play."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Finishing touch eluding Fire

Fire's Diego Chaves -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire offense possessed the ball for almost 70 percent of their scoreless draw against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday.

They garnered a miniscule point in the standings and no goals to show for their efforts.

The team's finishing touch has been absent for more than a month now. Chicago (1-3-4) showed promise right out of the gate, particularly with a three-goal effort en route to a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on March 26, followed by a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on March 30 in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in match.

The Fire have not posted a multi-goal effort since then, and the 4-2 loss to the Portland Timbers on April 14 included both defenses swapping own-goals.

So where has the finishing gone? How can a team that has the ball for two-thirds of a game not manage to tally a single goal?

"The confidence is always important, and maybe it's the technique in the moment, the way that you shoot the ball, the way that you have reception of the ball after you shoot," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "Maybe it's the pressure of this moment because the player -- I'm talking generally -- has a good option and he misses, which is part of this game."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire, Whitecaps muster draw

Daniel Paladini -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos stands by his approach -- possession game, attractive soccer and offensive-minded soccer.

The Fire handled the possession aspect on Saturday against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps. The clear problem was that Chicago had no final touch and played to a scoreless draw in front of 11,680 at Toyota Park.

The Fire (1-4-4) are winless in six straight games.

"I want to play football," De los Cobos said. "For me, it's very easy to put the ball forward with long balls, but I don't like it. I'm going to die with my idea, with my philosophy to play. It's possible to happen whenever. I believe in myself. I believe in my players."

The theme on Saturday was missed chances, but they were amplified by the fact that Chicago had plenty of space to work with and high-percentage scoring chances throughout the night. The Fire's productivity, however, resulted in only a 4-2 shots on goal advantage over the Whitecaps.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire get 1st look at expansion 'Caps

Fire's Carlos de los Cobos -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- This is not quite a do-or-die part of the MLS season, but the Chicago Fire have quickly dug themselves into a hole over a five-game winless streak.

May represents a critical month for the Fire, who are second-to-last in the Eastern Conference. With three of Chicago's four May matches against teams with losing records, it is the club's best situation to make up some ground.

One of those teams is expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which the Fire hosts for the first time Saturday at Toyota Park. Vancouver's defense has allowed the second-most goals (14) among MLS clubs, but Chicago's offense has been in a little funk with only three goals in its past three games.

"We need to win -- it's very important for us to win Saturday," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "The guys are trying to finish, but that's part of the game. Sometimes it doesn't happen."

The Fire (1-3-3) have yet to earn a league victory since their 3-2 home opener over Sporting Kansas City on March 26.

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.

Fire drop 3rd straight to depleted L.A.

Dominic Oduro -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy was without its star power Sunday, but the struggling Chicago Fire could not withstand the rest of L.A.'s depleted roster as Chicago dropped its third straight, 2-1, in front of 18,203 at Toyota Park.

Former Fire forward Chad Barrett and Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez provided the Galaxy's scoring as L.A. earned a victory without Landon Donovan (knee inflammation), David Beckham (suspended), Juninho (suspended) and Jovan Kirovski (suspended).

Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos adjusted a couple of things defensively with the addition of 33-year-old goalkeeper Jon Conway for second-year goalkeeper Sean Johnson, and center defensive back Josip Mikulic returned to the fray in place of Dasan Robinson.

But the defensive lapses continued, particularly on Barrett's goal in the 42nd minute. He was left all alone in the middle of the Fire's defense.

"Those little breakdowns that we've been having defensively have been hurting us a lot," Fire midfielder and defender Gonzalo Segares said. "That definitely brought the momentum down."

The Fire (1-3-1) found some late life as second-half substitution Dominic Oduro beat Gonzalez one-on-one at a difficult angle from the right side and slotted the ball past Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to cut L.A.'s lead to 2-1.

Chicago created a couple more chances, including two sequences when Conway left his goal and went into the offensive third. Shortly into stoppage time, Conway pushed up on a Marco Pappa corner kick, and Ricketts had a huge opportunity to punt the ball toward the empty net. Instead, Ricketts was too busy directing things with his teammates, and Conway eventually trudged back into the net.

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.

Mikulic steps into prominent role

Fire's Josip Mikulic -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- When the Chicago Fire sought out new pieces in building their 2011 squad, they brought in a group that had a combination of athleticism, youth and experience.

That might not be the easiest combination to find, but a fitting example is the addition of center defensive back Josip Mikulic. The 24-year-old Mikulic, a native of Ljubuski, Bosnia and Herzegovina, spent his previous five years with Croatian side NK Zagreb, and his game has stood out in the early going.

While Uruguayan forwards Diego Chaves and Gaston Puerari will grab the spotlight if they produce a regular scoring punch, it will be Mikulic's role in the back that turns out to be just as important.

Chicago has started its season with a 1-0-1 mark, and the Fire defense held most teams at bay during the preseason. The solid start has been anchored by a brand-new back line of Mikulic at center back, rookie Jalil Anibaba at right back and Cory Gibbs on the left when the Fire go with their 3-5-2 system.

"I played five years in Europe, and in my country, when you switch one guy, it's a problem," Mikulic said. "[The Fire] switched the whole defense, and it's been very good."

Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos accompanied technical director Frank Klopas in scouting Mikulic this offseason, and De los Cobos has been impressed with what Mikulic has brought to the table.

"He has a strong personality and he's very strong on the field," De los Cobos said. "He's playing very well together with Cory and Jalil. The most important thing is he's very honest on the field. I think we are lucky to have this guy with us."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire clash with K.C. in home opener

Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos -- Getty Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The two MLS teams that were atop last year's playoff-less panel square off this Saturday as the Chicago Fire host Sporting Kansas City at Toyota Park. Sporting K.C., previously known as the Wizards, ranked ninth last season with 39 points, and the Fire had the 10th-best points total last season with 36.

Not only did the postseason evade the Fire last season, but Chicago also hopes to turn around a lackluster 4-4-7 record at Toyota Park during the 2010 campaign.

Sporting K.C. (1-0-0) presents another strong offensive challenge for the Fire (0-0-1), who were able to fend off 2010 MLS runner-up FC Dallas last week with a 1-1 draw on the road. Kansas City sports an attack that features Omar Bravo, Kei Kamara and C.J. Sapong, a tandem that had some part of every goal during its 3-2 road win over Chivas USA to open the season. Bravo had two of the three goals.

"These guys are very similar [to Dallas]," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "Bravo is more of a forward and he doesn't drop too much. Kamara is very fast. And Sapong is a strong guy -- very young, but very strong."

"It's going to be a bit similar in terms of Dallas attacking with so many numbers," Fire defender Cory Gibbs said. "But the thing is Dallas attacked way more than what I think Kansas City will. They're going to be a threat still. So I think if we stay positive and stay organized defensively, we'll have our chances countering against that."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire add Oduro, Cuesta, trade Carr

Former Fire forward Calen Carr -- ISI Photos

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire added some new pieces to the puzzle on Wednesday with the acquisition of forward Dominic Oduro and Colombian defender Yamith Cuesta.

The Fire sent a 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft selection to Chivas USA for Cuesta's rights. And Chicago sent forward Calen Carr, a 2006 draft pick who spent his first five MLS seasons with the Fire, to the Houston Dynamo for the 25-year-old Oduro. Carr missed last weekend's 1-1 draw against FC Dallas because of a concussion.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Chaves, Fire secure draw at Dallas

Fire's Orr Barouch (R) -- Getty Images

The Chicago Fire handled 2010 MLS runner-up FC Dallas with composure in their season opener, earning a 1-1 draw on Saturday in the first leg of the Brimstone Cup at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

Uruguayan forward Diego Chaves netted his first MLS goal for the Fire as both teams scored within the first 20 minutes. The Fire, who regularly were handed red cards during the preseason, actually benefited on Saturday with Dallas defender Brek Shea getting ejected in the 55th minute.

Though the Fire could not get the go-ahead goal while up a man for most of the second half, getting a road draw against a tough Western Conference squad was a satisfying beginning to the 2011 campaign.

"Sometimes you tie and don't feel very good [about the result], and sometimes you tie and feel like you win," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "At the end of the game, I am not very happy about the result, but I am happy about the effort of the players."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Pace slows, Fire manage draw vs. Dallas

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire dug themselves into a bit of a hole, but a Brian McBride goal allowed the Fire to salvage a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Thursday night in MLS action in front of a crowd of 12,552 at Toyota Park.

If the Fire's busy May schedule has taken its toll, Thursday showed some indications that there were some heavy legs on the Chicago side. The pace of the second half slowed down quite a bit Thursday.

"The first half was pretty lively. The second half, fatigue set in," Fire midfielder Justin Mapp said. "It's a lot of minutes for a lot of these guys. It's no excuse, but a little fatigue in the last 10 to 15 [minutes]."

For more, visit ESPNChicago.com.

Fire, Dallas clash in 1-sided Brimstone series

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- We are into the tail end of May, with plenty of Major League Soccer action left in the tank. But with a 2-3-3 record and a middle-of-the-pack spot in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Fire are looking to change the tone of its season.

The Fire hope they can find the win column when they host FC Dallas at 7 p.m. Thursday at Toyota Park (game televised on ESPN2).

"We need to win," Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "We need to win this match and be aggressive."

The Brimstone Cup -- awarded annually to the winner of the Chicago-Dallas season series -- has been a tremendously one-sided honor in Dallas' favor. The Fire have not taken the head-to-head series since 2001 -- the only time they have won the Brimstone outright.

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.

Fire settle for 2-2 draw against K.C.

The Chicago Fire capitalized early in both halves, taking a 2-0 lead, but they could not hang on as the Kansas City Wizards pulled off a 2-2 draw Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City.

Wizards forward Kei Kamara netted two second-half goals in the 50th and 89th minutes, and Chicago (2-4-2) had to settle for one point on the road instead of three.

"Toward the end, they threw a lot of bodies forward, causing a lot of motion in the box, and they were able to sneak one through," Fire forward Brian McBride said.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire hope Wizards are quick remedy

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- For whatever reason the Chicago Fire typically have faired well against the Kansas City Wizards. That bodes well for them as they hope to quickly erase the memory of last week's 4-1 loss to Toronto FC.

The Fire have a 20-9-7 all-time record against the Wizards as they make the trek to Kansas City for a Saturday match at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

"They're a team that we enjoy to play," Fire midfielder Logan Pause said.

Chicago (2-3-2) faces a Wizards team that is 2-0-1 at home and 2-3-1 overall. The Fire could potentially change up their front-line system for this match. Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos said earlier this week that he might not go with the one-attacker formation that the team has utilized for the past several weeks.

"Maybe we'll play with two forwards," De los Cobos said. "We need to find a good result. The last match, I think that's the first match where we didn't look good."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire suffer 'defensive meltdown'

The Chicago Fire looked out of sorts during their 4-1 loss to Toronto FC on Saturday at BMO Field as Chicago's three-game undefeated streak came to a close.

Toronto had a wind-aided strike in the first half, but the rest was entirely on the Fire's shoulders as Toronto's Chad Barrett tallied two goals against his former teammates.

The last time the Fire gave up four goals in league play was during a 4-1 home loss to FC Dallas on Sept. 21, 2008.

"It was a defensive meltdown," Fire defender C.J. Brown said. "I think the four guys in the back, we weren't sharp today. Just before the second half we thought putting a lot of pressure on them was going to be good for us, and it ended up biting us."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.