Archive for February 2013

2013 MLS season preview and FC picks

Since I somehow managed to pick last year’s MLS Cup winner (okay – I admit tabbing LA to win it wasn’t exactly stepping out on a limb), I’m taking another crack at 2013 MLS season predictions. I had the Fire finishing third in the Eastern Conference and they actually did finish tied on points with... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 28, 2013 at 5:10 pm
• 18 comments

Fire begin training for season opener

Winning the Carolina Challenge Cup was one thing but now the season starts for real next Sunday in Los Angeles and the Fire are back in Bridgeview (for one day at least) to begin preparations for the 2013 kick-off match.  The team trained at the Bridgeview Sports Dome on Tuesday before departing for Los Angeles... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 26, 2013 at 9:06 pm
• 11 comments

Weekend notes - CCC edition

The Fire have an opportunity to clinch first place in the Carolina Challenge Cup tournament with a win or a draw versus the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. All three of the other participants (Charleston, Vancouver, and Houston) have at least one defeat and the Fire are 2-0 after beating Charleston 2-1 on Alex’s late game golazo.... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 21, 2013 at 5:01 pm
• 10 comments
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Mid week notes - Chimbonda, Amarikwa, roster cuts

With less than two weeks remaining until First Kick the Fire are close to set on a final roster. A few spots remain open and the club will use the final two preseason contests to further evaluate players before final cuts are made. One of the players on the bubble is Premier League veteran Pascal... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 19, 2013 at 4:31 pm
• 7 comments

Fire defeat Houston in first match of Carolina Challenge Cup

The Fire opened up this year’s Carolina Challenge Cup preseason tournament with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo. Sherjill MacDonald, Dilly Duka (ruled an own goal), and Jeff Larentowicz provided the scoring for Chicago. Frank Klopas has to be happy that the starting eleven generated several good scoring chances and finished three of them... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 16, 2013 at 9:10 pm
• 12 comments

Fire prep for final phase of pre-season

The Fire are training in Charleston, South Carolina for the next two weeks in the final stage of pre-season camp. A match against the Houston Dynamo this Saturday will be the first of three contests in the annual Carolina Challenge Cup warm-up. Frank Klopas talked about the decisions remaining to be made as the season... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 14, 2013 at 1:30 pm
• 16 comments
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Battle for roster spots in final stretch

With less than three weeks remaining until the first kick of the 2013 season the Fire have completed Phase 2 of training camp and have returned to Chicago for two days. The team will depart for Charleston, South Carolina and Phase 3 of preseason on Wednesday with the roster seemingly close to set. Spots 1-20,... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 11, 2013 at 8:44 am
• 18 comments

Fire v Earthquakes live stream

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The Fire take on Dan Gargan, Jon Busch and the San Jose Earthquakes tonight at 8pm. The match will be streamed live at Chicago-Fire.com or you can watch it here and comment on the proceedings. Jeff Crandall has posted game notes which features information on trialists and guest players. The well traveled Quincy Amarikwa is... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 9, 2013 at 12:30 pm
• 7 comments

Fire draw Chivas USA plus camp notes

The Fire and Chivas USA played to a 1-1 draw in Chicago’s third preseason tune-up of 2013. Rookie midfielder Yazid Atouba continued to make a case for landing a spot on the roster with his second goal in three games. During his weekly conference call yesterday Frank Klopas praised Atouba’s ability to create but noted... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 5, 2013 at 5:43 pm
• 13 comments
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Oduro for Duka/Rogers and Johnson gets USMNT call

Now that the Dominic Oduro for Dilly Duka (and Robbie Rogers) deal has been made official we can take a look at what the acquisitions mean for the Fire’s roster and depth chart heading into the 2013 season. Duka is likely to get a good shot at earning first eleven minutes on the left side... Read more »
By Guillermo Rivera,
February 4, 2013 at 10:16 am
• 15 comments