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CHICAGO FIRE v COLUMBUS CREW
TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill.
7:30 p.m. CT (FSC; CSN-Chi; ONN)
Oct. 7, 2006 (WEEK 28) / MLS Game #182
The Midwestern rivals meet for the final time in the regular season with their playoff fate already all but sealed. The Chicago Fire have clinched a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs and already know they will be taking on the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinals - who will hold home-field advantage in that two-leg series will be decided in the season's final two weeks. The Columbus Crew are the only team eliminated from playoff consideration; it's the second consecutive year they have failed to reach the postseason after winning the Supporters' Shield in 2004.
REFEREE: Richard Heron. SAR (bench): Thomas Supple; JAR (opposite): Adam Wienckowski; 4th: Ricardo Salazar
MLS Career: 40 games; FC/gm: 33.6; Y/gm: 2.6; R: 9; pens: 10
MLS 2006: 3 games; FC/gm: 29.0 (avg: 28.9); Y/gm: 0.3 (avg: 3.63); R: 0 (MLS: 42); pens: 0 (MLS: 39)
Games involving Fire: P11 W7 L3 T1; FC/gm: 34.2; Y/gm: 2.7; R: 3; pens: 3
Games involving Crew: P11 W1 L5 T5; FC/gm: 33.4; Y/gm: 1.7; R: 1; pens: 1
INJURY REPORT: CHICAGO FIRE - OUT: FW Chad Barrett (R fifth metatarsal fracture), MF Craig Capano (L knee derangement), DF Jeff Curtin (R adductor strain); DF Jared Montz (L adductor strain); MF John Thorrington (R hamstring strain) ... COLUMBUS CREW - OUT: GK Jonny Walker (lower back), DF Jed Zayner (L knee ACL); DF Frankie Hejduk (R knee ACL); GK Jon Busch (R knee ACL); MF Danny Szetela (R knee swelling)
SUSPENDED: CLB: Brandon Moss (through Oct. 7)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHI: Chris Armas, Gonzalo Segares ... CLB: Brandon Moss, Joseph Ngwenya, Rusty Pierce
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CHI: C.J. Brown, Calen Carr, Diego Gutierrez, Nate Jaqua, Dasan Robinson ... CLB: Eddie Gaven, Ritchie Kotschau, Chris Leitch, Jose Retiz
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (31 meetings): Fire 15 wins (1 shootout), 49 goals ... Crew 9 wins (0 shootout), 47 goals ... 7 draws
AT CHICAGO: (15 meetings): Fire 8 wins (1 shootout), 25 goals ... Crew 4 wins (0 shootout), 18 goals ... 3 draws
This is the fourth of four league meetings scheduled between the now-Eastern Conference rivals, the second of two meetings at Toyota Park.
A year ago, the Fire won two of the four meetings between the two clubs, the Crew winning one with one draw - as each victory came on the other's home ground. Chicago's victory in the first meeting between the teams last year was its first in Columbus since March 23, 2002, a span of six games.
As well, the Fire's victory in the first meeting a year ago snapped a five-match winless run against the Crew, beginning with the final meeting between the teams in 2003.
Coaches record: Dave Sarachan v CLB: P15 W4 L5 D6 ... Sigi Schmid vs. CHI: P19 W10 L6 D3 ...
2006 (MLS):
4/15: CLB 1, CHI 1 (Rozental 55 - Rolfe 49)
7/29: CHI 0, CLB 0
9/3: CHI 2, CLB 1 (Jaqua 40; Brown 47+ - Rozental 72)
The teams have met three times this season, playing to draws in their first two encounters before the Fire claimed a victory in the last meeting.
In their first meeting this season, the teams traded goals early in the second half before settling for a 1-1 draw on April 15 at Crew Stadium.
The visitors took the lead early in the second half, as Ohio native Chris Rolfe once again showed you can go home again. Chad Barrett raced through the heart of the Crew defense before slipping a through ball to Rolfe, who finished with aplomb from inside the area (49). It was his fourth goal in three league matches in Columbus against the Crew.
But the hosts pulled level just six minutes later. Jim Curtin was adjudged to have bundled over Kei Kamara from behind, and Sebastian Rozental perfectly slotted his penalty inside the left-hand post for the leveller.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in Bridgeview on July 29. Each goalkeeper did their part to ensure the game remained scoreless on the night. In the first half, before the first half hour was complete, Fire 'keeper Zach Thornton made two saves to keep the Crew off the board.
Then late in the match, as the Fire looked to grab the three points at the death, Crew 'keeper Bill Gaudette was called upon to make three saves, including a pair in stoppage time- the only ones he made on the night - to ensure his side shared the points.
LAST MEETING
The Fire extended their long unbeaten run as the Crew were unable to capitalize on a man advantage in a 2-1 Chicago victory at Crew Stadium on Sept. 9.
The Fire took control of the match with two goals over the final five-plus minutes of the first half. Justin Mapp made a strong run down the right flank and hooked in a low cross that Nate Jaqua side-footed home off the base of the post for his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign (40).
Then two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Chris Armas whipped in a short corner that C.J. Brown headed home from inside the penalty spot. For Brown, it was his first goal since his first season in 1998, a streak of 201 games without a goal.
The Fire were left a man down in the 63rd minute when Calen Carr was sent off with a straight red card after his high boot caught the head of Crew defender Rusty Pierce. Then nine minutes later Columbus pulled a goal back when Sebastian Rozental converted from the spot after an attempt by the Chilean from a corner kick was blocked by a handball from Jaqua, but that was as close as they got.
Here's Sarachan's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Pickens - C.J. Brown, Tony Sanneh, Gonzalo Segares - Nate Jaqua,, Chris Armas, Diego Gutierrez, Ivan Guerrero (Brian Plotkin 53) - Justin Mapp (Jim Curtin 75) - Calen Carr, Chris Rolfe (Logan Pause 64). [Substitutes Not Used: Thiago, Leonard Griffin, Andy Herron, David Mahoney]
Here's Schmid's team (4-2-3-1): Bill Gaudette - Chris Leitch (Ryan Coiner 68), Marcos Gonzalez, Chad Marshall, Rusty Pierce -Duncan Oughton, Jose Retiz (Ezra Hendrickson 79) - Eddie Gaven,Sebastian Rozental, Ricardo Virtuoso - Jason Garey (Joseph Ngwenya 60). [Substitutes Not Used: Marc Burch, Ned Grabavoy, Andy Gruenebaum, Ritchie Kotschau]
CHICAGO FIRE
Four days after winning the first honor of the year, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 in the U.S. Open Cup Final, the Chicago Fire lost for just the second time in 10 league games, falling 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening at Giants Stadium. The Fire still hold second place in the Eastern Conference, with 44 points from 30 matches, and are guaranteed to play New England in the conference semifinals - with the Revolution two points back with two games to play, the only question is who will hold home-field advantage.
LAST MATCH
The Red Bulls came into the game still on the outside looking in at the postseason picture, two points behind the Wizards in the East, while the Fire were looking to secure home-field advantage in the conference semifinals after winning the first honor available on the year in the U.S. Open Cup Final at midweek.
Once again, it was the heroics of 16-year-old Jozy Altidore from nearby Newark, N.J. who provided the Red Bulls with the margin of victory. Two weeks earlier he scored the only goal in New York's 1-0 win against Columbus - their only victory in their previous six games - and in his first MLS start he came through again on the hour mark.
Marvell Wynne ran onto a Danny O'Rourke pass on the right flank and put in a low cross where Altidore came in and lashed it past Fire goalkeeper Matt Pickens for his third goal in five professional appearances.
The Red Bulls were left to sweat out a tense final nine minutes when Wynne was sent off for a second bookable offense, but they held out - and combined with the Kansas City home draw - pulled into a tie for the final playoff spot in the East.
With the U.S. Open Cup won and the postseason secure, Fire head coach Dave Sarachan made four changes to the team that defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 the previous Saturday. Jim Curtin returned to the lineup, coming into the back three for Tony Sanneh. Nate Jaqua, Ivan Guerrero and Logan Pause also all returned to the team, coming in for Justin Mapp, Diego Gutierrez and C.J. Brown.
Here's Sarachan's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Pickens - Dasan Robinson, Jim Curtin, Gonzalo Segares (Calen Carr 82) - Nate Jaqua, Chris Armas, Logan Pause (Justin Mapp 71), Ivan Guerrero - Thiago - Chris Rolfe, Andy Herron (Diego Gutierrez 46). [Substitutes Not Used: C.J. Brown, Ryan Johnson, David Mahoney, Brian Plotkin]
"I think they beat us to a lot of balls tonight right from the start of the game. We never got into any possession of a rhythm," Sarachan said. "The disappointing part was that I didn't feel that we were out-soccered tonight but we were out-competed tonight. We knew they'd come hard and we didn't respond very well."
TEAM NEWS
Having already booked their ticket for the MLS Cup Playoffs and won the Dewar Trophy at midweek, it would have been natural to assume the Fire suffered a post-title hangover against a Red Bulls team desperate for wins.
"I don't think that carried over," said Fire captain Chris Armas. "If you look at our last few road games, we had good mentalities but it hasn't worked out good."
The Fire were still looking to secure second place in the East, which they can still secure with a victory against the Crew if the Revolution fail to win at D.C. United, or with as little as a draw against Columbus if New England loses at RFK Stadium.
"We had a good week, given the fact that we lifted a trophy Wednesday, but the truth of the matter is we have to get back into our good workout habits again and realized that now that's over with and the league is important and we've got to do our best to lock up second place," said Sarachan.
Said defender Dasan Robinson: "We came here with the right mindset that we just won something, and that was great but we still have another few goals to accomplish. We're trying to secure second place, we're trying to win the MLS Cup. Tonight, it's just the way the game is, sometimes things don't go our way. It just wasn't our night."
Still, the Fire were held to just a single shot on goal over the entire 90 minutes - an Ivan Guerrero effort just before the halftime break.
"We knew what kind of pressure they were going to come out with but I just think we needed to match it better than we did," Robinson said. "They came at us pretty hard in the first half and were able to sustain it. They caught us one play and it was unfortunate."
Said Armas: "We knew what to expect. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but on the road, you just have to execute a little better, especially with the ball. When you are that bad with the ball, it puts so much pressure on your backs and the midfield."
COLUMBUS CREW
Despite taking care of business on their end, the Columbus Crew were still eliminated from playoff contention, capturing a 3-1 victory against FC Dallas on Saturday night at Crew Stadium. The result leaves the Crew in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 30 points from 30 matches, five points behind the fourth-place tie between the New York Red Bulls and Kansas City Wizards - but with those teams playing on the final day of the season, one or both will end up with at least 36 points, and the Crew has lost the tiebreaker against both teams.
LAST MATCH
The Crew with the faintest of hope, needing to win out and have New York and Kansas City fail to win in order to make the playoffs. FC Dallas had become the first team in the Western Conference to clinch their postseason spot the weekend before, and could clinch home-field advantage throughout with a victory.
The start of the game was delayed nearly 40 minutes because of weather, but the Crew were able to react quickest and take a lead after 22 minutes. Ritchie Kotschau put in a cross from the left and Jason Garey headed it up into the air for Joseph Ngwenya to come in from behind and volley it past Shaka Hislop.
The delay in the match meant that word filtered through that New York had won, ending the Crew's postseason hopes. But they still doubled their lead in the 66th minute through a thundering free kick from well outside the area by Jacob Thomas.
Ten minutes later Garey added to the advantage, finishing off a neat passing combination that saw Thomas find Eddie Gaven wide before he rolled a cross into the area for the rookie to tap home.
FC Dallas pulled a goal back in stoppage time. Richard Mulrooney found Abe Thompson on the right, and he sent in a cross to meet the perfectly timed run of Carlos Ruiz. The Guatemalan international knocked the ball inside the left post from just inside the area for his 12th goal of the season.
Crew head coach Sigi Schmid made three changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with Houston Dynamo the weekend before at home. Rusty Pierce and Marcos Gonzalez returned to the back four, coming in for Chris Leitch and Marc Burch. Joseph Ngwenya also returned from suspension, coming in for Sebastian Rozental.
Here's Schmid's team (4-2-3-1): Bill Gaudette - Rusty Pierce, Marcos Gonzalez, Chad Marshall, Ritchie Kotschau - Brandon Moss, Duncan Oughton - Joseph Ngwenya (Chris Leitch 80), Ricardo Virtuoso (Jacob Thomas 50) Eddie Gaven - Jason Garey (Ezra Hendrickson 83). [Substitutes Not Used: Ned Grabavoy, Andy Gruenebaum, Kei Kamara, Jose Retiz]
"We are pleased with the fact that we scored three goals," said Schmid. "We came out and played with good energy early in the game. ... We felt that we had enough speed up front that we could give Dallas some trouble and we did that."
TEAM NEWS
For the first time in club history, the Crew have failed to reach the postseason in back-to-back seasons. They've reached the postseason just once in the past four years - when they won the MLS' Supporters Shield in 2004.
"With the other results, there is some sadness. Even though I realized it was uphill and realized it was not very likely, you always hold out hope," said Crew head coach Sigi Schmid. "Not having that hope there anymore is like nine months of work for nothing."
With the final two games meaningless from the standpoint of playoff perspective, the Crew will try to continue the momentum from Saturday's win and build towards a successful 2007 campaign.
"I want the guys to be happy because they won [Saturday], but if they go out partying then they are probably not guys I want on the team next year," said Schmid.
Due to injuries and a long winless streak, almost everyone on the Crew's roster has had significant playing time during the season. However, Schmid alluded to two players who should see more minutes as the season closes.
"The only guy that really hasn't had a chance is Ned Grabavoy because of the injuries he had," said the Crew boss. "There is a chance to get (goalkeeper) Andy Gruenebaum in there."
If the Crew are to avoid the lowest goals per game average over an entire season in MLS history, they are going to have to score three goals in each of their final two games, both on the road, at Chicago this Saturday, then at New England to close out the season. Only three teams have scored less than a goal per game in MLS history - Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA last year (30 and 31 goals respectively in 32 games), and the 2004 Colorado Rapids, who maintained a winning record while scoring only 29 times in 30 matches.thanks to superhuman efforts by goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
"It is too late, but it's good we did have a win for the fans in the last game," Thomas said to the Columbus Dispatch. "It was a good win, a 3-1 win, and it could have been more."
It was the second time this season the Crew had scored three goals in a game, their season high. However, it was only the fourth time all year the Black-and-Gold had scored more than one goal in a game.
