When FC Dallas visit the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., on Saturday afternoon, FC Dallas head coach Colin Clarke recognizes a club in much the same situation as his was about a year ago.
The game will be the Fire's sixth at their new home and Clarke has noticed that their Brimstone Cup rival has settled into their new digs much quicker than the Hoops did last year when Pizza Hut Park opened.
"They're probably settled in a little quicker than we were last year," Clarke said. "They had a tough start to the year and they've done pretty well. They've gotten home and have gotten a few results. Now, they're right in the middle of the pack (in their division)."
The Hoops team that hits the field in the Windy City this weekend will look somewhat different from the one the Fire faced in the opening weekend of the season, when FC Dallas posted a 3-2 win in Frisco. Carlos Ruiz, the team's leader in goals and assists, is out for three weeks with a strained right hamstring and Roberto Mina is out for 10 weeks with a torn medial meniscus in his left knee.
Starting in Ruiz's place will be Dominic Oduro; the rookie forward will likely make his second start alongside Cooper. Sarachan is aware of how dangerous Oduro can be up top.
"I remember him at the (2006) combine," Fire head coach Dave Sarachan said. "He's got tremendous pace and we saw that in the combine. I know that he didn't see a lot of time early on. But now that he's been called on, he's done well. He's a guy that we certainly need to keep our eyes on."
This will be Oduro's first start in a road game, and he is looking forward to it.
"This will be my first time starting in an away game," he said. "I know the pressure will really be on us (to play well). I think right now our main focus is to get an early goal like we did against New York and then keep the ball and really push hard on them. We have to concentrate really hard and do what we have to do."
Oduro knows the loss of Ruiz is a big blow to his club, but he is ready to make the most of his latest opportunity to shine.
"We are losing the best striker in MLS so far in Carlos," he said. "So, a lot of pressure will be on us. As a professional player, you don't let it hit you hard, you just suck it in and do what you have to do. As a player, you have to capitalize on every opportunity you get. This is another opportunity for me to show how good I am on the field. I think I'm going to be able to do that."
Sarachan feels that with Ruiz and Mina out, the key to containing the potent FCD offense will be limiting the impact that midfielder Ronnie O'Brien has on the match.
"I've always respected the way Ronnie plays and what he brings to every match," he said. "When you look at everybody's roster, there are always a few key guys and Ronnie is certainly a key guy on that team that makes them go. He's going to be a guy that we need to keep a pretty close eye on."
The Hoops players recognize that Chicago is a team that has many different offensive options to throw at their opposition.
"I remember when we played them here in the opener that in the first half, we had trouble dealing with some of their attackers," FCD defender Drew Moor said. "Thiago is a very tricky player in the midfield who has scored some great goals this year. (Chris) Armas is their workhorse and is a ball winner. (Nate) Jaqua is just a big, strong target up front."
Moor feels that limiting Thiago's touches on Saturday will be crucial.
"We need to keep them from playing through Thiago," he said. "I know he sets a lot up for them and is good running with the ball. We just need to try and deny service into Jaqua and keep him from holding the ball."
Moor knows the significance of the game and thinks the Hoops can use it as a springboard to possibly start another streak, this one of the winning variety.
"It's a big match. It's what the fans call our biggest rival and we want to do it for them. We also want to put together a good run of games here," Moor said. "On Saturday, we got three points and we want to get back on a positive run like we were on at the beginning of the season. We want to pick up points little by little and get on a good run going into the All-Star break."
Last weekend, the Hoops put an end to a couple of bad streaks with Saturday's 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls, snapping a three-game losing streak and putting an end to a 330-minute scoreless streak. Chicago, on the other hand, comes off a 2-1 loss to New England last Saturday, their first-ever loss at Toyota Park.
FCD has struggled away from Frisco this year with a 1-3-2 record on the road. Their only road victory of 2006 came on May 24 when they beat New York 2-1 at Giants Stadium. The Hoops need to play better on the road, with 11 of their next 16 games being away contests.
"We do need to change it (our bad road record) because we have a lot of road games coming up, especially in the second half of the season," Moor said. "I think 10 of our last 15 games are on the road. So, we need to come out more focused."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
