The Chicago Fire ended the second portion of its 2005 preseason schedule with a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids in an exhibition contest played at Hoover H.S. Buccaneer Stadium in the Birmingham, AL suburb of Hoover. Despite a combined 27 shots on the evening and several chances of quality, neither team managed to score in the first MLS exhibition to be played in the Birmingham area. Saturday night's tie moves the Fire's preseason record to 4-4-2 with one match remaining before it kicks off MLS regular season play on April 2 at FC Dallas.
"I felt we played well here tonight," said Fire Head Coach Dave Sarachan. "As we get closer to April 2, it becomes more important to push the minutes for some of the guys, and the field tonight allowed us to do just that. It was a little difficult to play because of the field dimensions, but I was pretty happy because the only real danger [Colorado] created was on set pieces. Each of our guys did well in their positions tonight, which is important as the preseason continues on."
The Fire started off the physical match with the game's first chance just two minutes in when midfielder John Thorrington's cross bounced through the penalty area to Thiago, whose shot from nine yards out sailed just over the crossbar. Ten minutes later, Fire captain Chris Armas sent a freekick into the mixer that defender Kelly Gray sent on net from 10 yards out with his first touch. However, Colorado goalkeeper Joe Cannon did well to get the low shot, diving to his left to make the save and keep the Fire off the board. Chicago would create more chances off of set pieces in the half, but a 25-yard shot from Jim Curtin in the 35th minute and a Nate Jaqua header from six yards out in the 42nd minute both sailed high.
The Fire would press the action in the second half, holding the majority of the possession and creating numerous chances, with many off them again coming off of dead-ball scenarios. Five minutes into the stanza, Jaqua would find himself on the end of a Justin Mapp corner kick, this time his header destined for the upper right corner beating Cannon. However, Rapids defender Eric Denton would stick to the right post and head the shot off the line to keep the match scoreless. Halftime substitute Chad Barrett would take his first shot in the 55th minute, a dangerous effort from eight yards that Cannon dove to his left to stop. While the Rapids would hit the woodwork of Fire netminder Zach Thornton twice in the last half hour of the contest, including a shot that hit the crossbar and was cleared off the line by defender C.J. Brown, the defense of the "Men in Red" held firm to help Thornton collect the clean sheet on the evening. Another Jaqua header towards the upper right corner would be saved by Cannon in the 61st minute, and Chicago's last quality effort of the night, a sizzling shot from a pivoting Mapp from 23 yards out, would whistle just wide of the right post 15 minutes from time.
The Fire will return to Chicago on Sunday and take much of the next week off before beginning the last phase of its preseason training - a nine-day stay in Jackson, MS - on Friday, Mar. 18.
Fire Lineup (4-4-2): Zach Thornton, Kelly Gray, Jim Curtin, C.J. Brown, Mario Ivan Guerrero, John Thorrington, Jesse Marsch, Chris Armas (Chad Barrett 46), Justin Mapp, Nate Jaqua, Thiago.
Rapids Lineup (4-4-2): Joe Cannon, Eric Denton, Guy Melamed, Amir Lowery, Hunter Freeman, Martin Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Alaine Nkong (Mark Chung 59), Chris Henderson (Terry Cook 77), Jeff Cunningham, Jean Philippe Peguero.
