BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Chicago Fire midfielder Pável Pardo will miss Wednesday's match against Philadelphia (8:30 pm ET, streamed LIVE online), his fourth straight game while nursing a calf injury on Wednesday. The former Mexican international may also miss Saturday’s game in New York (3:30 pm ET, NBC, live chat on MLSsoccer.com).
“We don’t want to rush now,” Pardo told reporters at training on Tuesday. “Of course, I would like to play on Saturday, but the most important thing is how I feel and what is the danger, so if it’s at 100 percent, I’ll play. If not, I cannot play because we have players also who can do it.”
Last Friday against Kansas City, center back Austin Berry fell awkwardly and aggravated a lingering shoulder injury. Berry hasn’t missed any games with the injury wasn’t concerned about the knock after the game.
“It’s alright, it’s the same thing as the last couple of times I’ve done it,” Berry told MLSsoccer.com. “It’s been the same kind of thing throughout most of the season.”
Klopas, Pause ready for club milestones
The Fire will celebrate their 15th anniversary with a ceremony during Wednesday’s game and next Monday, Oct. 8, when the Section 8 supporters’ section will hold an event at the Chicago History Museum.
Former Fire players Chris Armas, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Peter Nowak will be honored at Toyota Park on Wednesday, and several former players are expected to appear at next week’s event.
“It’s a day that we have to honor and remember,” said head coach Frank Klopas, who grew up in Chicago and played for the Fire from 1998-99. “Obviously for me, it was different, not having professional soccer here in the city for many years and being disappointed we didn’t have a franchise in the inaugural season. Obviously to have that day come and to have that announcement, it was fantastic.”
Wednesday’s game will also be captain Logan Pause’s 300th with the Fire.
“I think one of the special things about this club is that once you represent this club and wear the jersey, you’re a part of this family,” Pause said. “I think it’s just such a great thing that our supporters are putting on an event. … Seeing some old faces with guys who have represented this club is special.”
Klopas, Segares suspended
Klopas and defender Gonzalo Segares will also miss Saturday’s game after being ejected from the Sporting KC match.
The Fire coach was tossed after arguing with the fourth official, while Segares received his second yellow card for a 93rd minute tackle on Sporting forward C.J. Sapong.
“I thought that play was not even a foul, less than a yellow card,” Segares said. “Things happen this time, and I’ve just got to deal with it.”
Assistants Mike Matkovich and Leo Percovich will fill in for Klopas and Dan Gargan will most likely slide into Segares’ left back spot.
