After three games of the 2008 MLS season, the Chicago Fire have given up zero goals to an opposition player.
The only goal counting against the Fire this season was an own goal by defender Bakary Soumare, who has more than made up for that mistake with his play.
With the overwhelming talent he has at his disposal on the defensive side, Fire coach Denis Hamlett has played six players on his four-man back line in the first three games, and only Soumare and Gonzalo Segares have started each of the three games.
Soumare is in his second year in the league after playing only one year at the University of Virginia, where he was also a member of the Generation adidas program. The second overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, Soumare managed to get 11 starts and play in 19 games for the Fire last season.
But he didn't play center back as he is now for the Fire, or as he did throughout his high school and college career. He played as a defensive midfielder, simply because the back was loaded and the Fire needed some help in the middle.
"It got me on the field last year, first thing," Soumare said after practice Tuesday. "I got to play in some games, and got some MLS experience.
"That started from the first preseason," he said. "They felt I could play that role, and they kept me there. I enjoyed it a lot. It was something fairly new to me, but I think sometimes me playing defensive midfield has helped me play in the back this year."
With injuries to Dasan Robinson and C.J. Brown slowing their progress in the early season, and the changes of coaches from Juan Carlos Osorio to Hamlett, Soumare was returned to the back line for 2008 and the results have been dramatic.
In games against Real Salt Lake, New England and San Jose, the Fire have given up 43 shots and 21 shots on goal without giving up a tally other than Soumare's inadvertent touch against RSL.
"It was one of those unfortunate things," Soumare said. "It was crowded, and the ball comes in, and I went over to play it. I should have played it with my left foot but it went off my right foot and bounced off my shin guard and went in."
The own goal was erased by the dramatic stoppage time goal by Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the season opener for the Fire.
Soumare has played defense almost his entire soccer career, and has played center back for most of that time as well.
"I enjoy the responsibility," Soumare said. "It is a large responsibility, but I don't think it is more responsibility than any other position. You have a role and you just play that role.
"I know kids don't want to play defense sometimes, because they want to score goals," he said. "But I enjoy playing there, especially in the pros. Besides, somebody has to do it."
So the Fire have not allowed an opposition goal. The New York Red Bulls have the next lowest goals-against total with two, but the Bulls have only played two games as well.
"We definitely talk about it," Soumare said. "We want to be a hard team to play against, and defense is where it starts from. And, you know, we play defense from the front as well, with our forwards and midfielders. And you have to give a lot of credit to (goalkeeper Jon Busch) because he has done very well back there."
Soumare (his name rhymes, and is pronounced ba-CAR-ay soo-MAR-ay) is a native of Mali, and he stands 6-4, which makes him stand out against his smaller teammates and opposition. So his play becomes more noticeable as well.
"It has its advantages and disadvantages," Soumare said. "I get everything that comes into the air, and my height is my strength. Maybe you are not as quick when you are taller, but my game is based on strength and it has been more of an advantage."
When Brown becomes fully healthy, he is likely to take the center back spot, and Soumare's time and position could change. But through the first three games, Soumare has been the anchor for the best defense in MLS.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
