Chicago Sun-Times

Pairing Chris Rolfe, Patrick Nyarko offers Fire scoring hope

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:10:17 -0500

Since Chris Rolfe left the team to play in Denmark after the 2009 season, the Fire’s Patrick Nyarko had long anticipated a reunion with Rolfe, who is the second-leading scorer in club history. But even after Rolfe’s return to the Fire midway through the 2012 season, Nyarko didn’t have much of an opportunity to combine with him on a regular basis. At the time, Nyarko was playing as an outside midfielder and Rolfe as a withdrawn striker. However, in the 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union last Saturday at Toyota Park, the two teamed at forward for the first time …

Fire’s loss to Union shows how much team misses Arne Friedrich

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:40:32 -0500

With each passing game, more questions arise as to why the same group of Fire players that led the team to the playoffs last season has been unable to find any continuity in 2013. After the team’s 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Toyota Park, players shrugged their shoulders when asked why they were unable to win a game in which they were the better team in possession. But in his most forthcoming postgame news conference of the season, Fire coach Frank Klopas explained why the team has struggled so much. “One of the things is for …

Fire seeks answers to offensive woes

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:39:59 -0500

With the Fire struggling to score, coach Frank Klopas is doing all he can to get his team to generate offense consistently. Fire attackers work on finishing drills during training, and scrimmages are played on shorter fields to allow the offense more opportunity to work on its play in the offensive zone. By all accounts, those measures have worked in practice. The players the Fire expected to be its elite scorers before the season regularly put the ball into the net during training sessions. But the fact they haven’t done so in games indicates the Fire likely has a mental …

Saturday’s result: Montreal Impact 2, Fire 0

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:47:58 -0500

MONTREAL — Andres Romero and Marco Di Vaio scored in the second half, lifting the Montreal Impact to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday. Montreal (5-1-1) improved to 3-0-1 at home and won for the first time since beating visiting New York on March 23. The Impact lost 2-0 at Sporting Kansas City a week later and had a 1-1 draw with Columbus here on April 4 in MLS play, and lost 2-0 at Toronto in the Canadien Championship series on Wednesday. The Fire (2-5-1) dropped to 0-3-1 on the road. Romero got his first MLS goal …

Sherjill MacDonald has no goals, but is staying the course

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:13:34 -0500

Exactly how long the Fire is willing to wait for forward Sherjill MacDonald to round into form is unclear. But MacDonald, the team’s highest paid player and its only designated player, understands time isn’t his ally. MacDonald has yet to score a goal through seven games. After being benched for the opener against the Galaxy, he has started the last six games but hasn’t played a full 90 minutes this season. MacDonald’s frustration became noticeable in last Saturday’s 1-0 home win over the Columbus Crew when he was subbed out of the game, but walked off the field — wasting …

Jeff Larentowicz scores late goal to give Fire 1-0 win over Crew

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:53:43 -0500

After trading for Jeff Larentowicz this offseason, the Fire had high expectations for a player who has been an integral part of a MLS Cup Championship team. But through the first six games, Larentowicz struggled at times. The veteran holding midfielder finally broke out in Saturday’s game against the Columbus Crew at Toyota Park when he scored the game’s only goal in the 83rd minute of a 1-0 Fire win. The goal came when Larentowicz headed the ball into the net from six yards out after a flick-on by center back Austin Berry and long throw-in from outside back Jalil …

Fire’s back line needs to step up

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:09:22 -0500

While the Fire will scour tape of its first six games for the answer to turn around what has been a tumultuous season, it would be well-served to look back even farther. Last season, the team allowed too many goals early in games. The problem has returned this season. The Fire has yet to score first all season, but when it hosts the offensively talented Columbus Crew on Saturday at Toyota Park, starting well will be vital. Though it’s a team issue, the back line must do its job in limiting the Crew’s chances early. “Early goals happen,” defender Jalil …

Fire falls to 1-4-1 with loss to Dynamo

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:20:33 -0500

HOUSTON — Brad Davis had a goal and an assist, and the Houston Dynamo set a Major League Soccer record for the longest home unbeaten streak in all competitions with a 2-1 victory Sunday against the Fire. The Dynamo (4-2-0) hasn’t lost a home game across all competitions since June 18, 2011, a span of 35 matches. The old mark of 34 was set by Real Salt Lake from 2009 to 2011. The Dynamo also tied the MLS record for the longest home unbeaten streak — 29 games — in the regular season. That record was set by Real Salt …

Fire’s Daniel Paladini, Maicon Santos poking into starting picture

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:40:30 -0500

The Fire’s 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls last Sunday did a lot to alleviate the pressure mounting after the worst start to a season in franchise history. But it didn’t do much to relieve coach Frank Klopas. Yes, Klopas was happy to finally get the first win of the season and watch the Fire score three goals after scoring just one in its first four games. But the Fire used reserve players in major roles, forcing Klopas to make crucial personnel decisions heading into Sunday’s game in Houston against the Dynamo. Starting at outside midfield because of …

Daniel Paladini has goal, two assists in Fire’s first victory

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:22:31 -0500

In his first two seasons with the Fire, Daniel Paladini found himself fighting for playing time behind a group of higher-paid midfielders. But he has delivered when he has received an opportunity, and he turned in a huge effort in the Fire’s 3-1 victory Sunday against the New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park. In the Fire’s first victory of the season, Paladini scored the tying goal in the first half and assisted on both of Maicon Santos’ second-half goals. In his last nine starts, Paladini has three goals and three assists. ‘‘We matured as a team today, and it …

No time like present for Fire to get going in right direction

Wed, 08 May 2013 06:38:51 -0500

In the two weeks since its 4-1 home loss to Chivas USA, the Fire has had plenty of opportunity to spin the worst start in franchise history into optimism. The Fire will return to action Sunday at Toyota Park against the New York Red Bulls, a team against which it went 2-1-0 and scored five goals last season. But there wasn’t a player on the Fire willing to use the team’s success last season against the Red Bulls to deflect the pressure the team will face Sunday. Having notched only one point through four games, the Fire knows it faces …