BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - It's been a rough time of late for the Chicago Fire.
Winless in their last five contests, the Fire lost four in a row before producing a scoreless draw Sunday against visiting Real Salt Lake. With the tie, Chicago tied a franchise record as it registered its fifth consecutive game without a win.
Although his team is in a bit of a dry spell, Fire coach Dave Sarachan said he was pleased with his team's performance Sunday.
"There was good effort from the beginning to the end of the game," Sarachan said. "We're in a period of time when it is not falling for us. We had a makeshift group (Sunday). We had six potential starters that were not available, so the guys who did get in there and played did a good job. It would have been nice to get three points at home but it was not from a lack of effort."
Sarachan said his team has not lost its focus and believes the Fire will rebound.
"I tell them that we need to keeping pressing on," Sarachan said. "We have to keep working. You have to be honest and look at each other. I don't think we have looked at another team and thought that they genuinely beat us."
One thing is for certain: Sarachan isn't giving up. The Fire boss brushed off a suggest he might leave the club.
"I didn't ask for a raise when we had the best start in franchise history earlier this year," Sarachan said. "I'm not going to resign. We're getting back on track. I feel confident of that."
Although they were held without a goal, the Fire did get some added firepower on the front line. Willian Oliveira was signed Thursday and made his debut that night against New York. The 22-year-old Brazilian made his first MLS start Sunday at midfielder and made an immediate impact.
In the second minute, Oliveira recorded the game's first shot on goal when he tried to blast one past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Forward Chad Barrett was impressed with Oliveira's intensity and speed that he can bring to the Fire offense.
"Willian has a really good left foot," said Barrett, who led Chicago with three shots on goal. "He came out and showed it to begin the game. He's just another part of an arsenal that we can put together here."
One part of the Fire arsenal that may be slowed down is Justin Mapp. The Chicago midfielder was taken out of the contest in the 61st minute with a hamstring pull in his right leg.
"I've pulled this muscle before in the same leg but it's at a different spot," Mapp said. "I've always had these kinds of injuries so I just have to keep on going."
Mapp is one of three Fire players selected to participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and he is the only one from Chicago that will represent the United States.
"I'm not supposed to leave to start playing with the team until another week or so," Mapp said. "I'm hoping that with a few days left, I will be able to be ready to play at full speed."
Tim Hilton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
