There was no mistaking the offensive weaponry at the disposal of Chicago Fire coach Denis Hamlett last week in his team's 4-0 win against the New England Revolution.
Tomasz Frankowski, a new member of the Fire after years playing in Europe and elsewhere, scored a pair of goals. Chad Barrett had a goal and Cuauhtemoc Blanco nailed a penalty kick as the Fire took a 4-0 lead into halftime.
The offensive options were even more plentiful. Chris Rolfe, a dangerous scorer with U.S. national team experience, was also in the game, as was Justin Mapp, another U.S. national team member.
But what mattered most to the Fire as they took to the field in the second half was not so much protecting their 4-0 lead. It was preserving the clean sheet.
Which the Fire did. With veterans Gonzalo Segares, Brandon Prideaux and Diego Gutierrez working with second-year defender Bakary Soumare, the Fire turned in its second "shutout" in two games.
Yes, the Fire did give up a goal in their first game, a 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake. But it was an own goal by Soumare, who got turned around inside the box and deflected a low, driven cross past Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch.
But Busch and the line in front of him have not given up a goal scored by the other team after two games this season.
"We have a great leader in the back in Jon Busch," Barrett said. "He loves to talk, and keeps everybody up. We haven't been scored on yet. Hopefully we can stay healthy and just keep going on."
The Fire improved their defense with the addition of Prideaux, picked up off the waiver wire from Colorado, and by moving Soumare to his college position of center back (Soumare played at the University of Virginia). Soumare played as a center midfielder last season because the Fire needed him to do so.
"When we drafted Baky, we knew he was a center back, but given our situation last year, we had to play him at midfield," Hamlett said. "It was a learning curve for him. This season, with (veteran) C.J. Brown being out and Dasan (Robinson) out, we felt we had a guy ready to play in their place."
Soumare stands 6-foot-4 and towers over the rest of the Fire backfield. He is long and lanky and covers ground quickly.
"We started the process early in the preseason with him, so he can be comfortable," Hamlett said. "So far we are happy with the process. He is starting to understand the position, he is comfortable with the ball. Now it is just a matter of him developing in that position."
Hamlett could soon face the kind of decisions coaches love to have. Robinson, who is in his third season, played 90 minutes in a reserve game last week and could be ready soon (although he picked up a knee sprain in the reserve contest). Brown claims to be on the verge of returning as well.
"I hope to be doing more by Wednesday," Brown said. "From the looks of things, they don't need me, but I want to make them think about using me."
"I'm not sure he will be ready for San Jose," Hamlett said of Brown. "We want to make sure not to push him so there is no setback."
Too much talent in the back would match the Fire's current situation with too much talent up front (talented forward Andy Herron was not used in the New England game). The Fire appear to be much improved over last season, and the New England result has everyone involved thinking very positive thoughts.
"I think there are a lot of teams in this league that don't have the depth we do," Barrett said.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
