Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire - MLS #9: Gamethread
by Tweed Thornton on May 14, 2011 4:36 PM CDT
in Fire Previews & Recaps
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The Chicago Fire have arrived safely in Toronto after some minor plane mishaps yesterday. Kickoff at BMO Field is at 6:00 PM CST. You can catch all the action on CSN Chicago. Game thoughts, a new player rumor and your in-game comments are after the break.
Toronto is just not a very good team. They are probably saying the same about us going into today's game but that doesn't improve the quality of Toronto's roster. They may have 10 points to the Fire's 7 but Toronto has also played 2 more games than Chicago. Their two victories came against Portland and Houston (hardly wins to hang your hat on) and they have lost to Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2, DC United 3-0, and Seattle Sounders 3-0. Overall the club is 1-1-3 in their last 5 games. The team comes into tonight's game on short rest after losing to FC Dallas 1-0 on Wednesday. On top of all of that, this will be Toronto's 7th game in 22 days thanks to the frantic schedule of the Canadian Championship. The first leg of the Canadian Championship is this Wednesday. Waking the Red's Duncan Fletcher said that Toronto FC might put out a weaker lineup today because the Canadian Championship is more important to the team. Tonight's game is an important test for the Fire to improve on their 3 game undefeated streak. If there is any killer instinct in this team, it should be on display tonight as Toronto is not good, tired, and has their eyes on the game after us.
There are some rumors out there that Colombian Gionvanni Hernandez might be coming to the Chicago Fire. As of now, I think it is just talk. Team writer Jeff Crandall says there is no truth to the rumors. That said, this situation could provide just the test scenario Iron81 and I discussed of whether or not Marko Maric being placed on the MLS DL opens up an international roster slot. We might also just see someone released.
My prediction for the Starting XI is Jon Conway; Jalil Anibaba, Cory Gibbs, Josip Mikulic, Gonzalo Segares; Daniel Paladini; Dominic Oduro, Gaston Puerari, Corben Bone, Marco Pappa; Diego Chaves.
The best guess for Toronto FC is Stefan Frei; Richard Eckersley, Dicoy Williams, Adrian Cann, Danleigh Borman; Julian De Guzman; Tony Tchani, Matt Gold; Nick Soolsma, Maicon Santos, Joao Plata
Pre/In/Post game thoughts and comments below. I'm predicting a Chicago Fire 2-1 victory.
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Guillermo Rivera reporting...
Cuesta and Gibbs at centerback positions. Interesting. I am guessing Sega and Anibaba get the flanks.
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Tradition. Honor. Passion.
Cuesta over Mikulic at CB isthe only change to projected XI above. I’m guessing Mikulic is not 100%. Perhaps with the weaker opponent the Fire figure they have an opportunity to let him rest.
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Starting XI
Conway; Anibaba, Cuesta, Gibbs, Segares; Paladini; Oduro, Puerari, Bone, Pappa ©; Chaves
TFC Starting XI
Frei; Eckersley, Cann, Williams, Gargan; De Guzman, Peterson, Tchani; Plata, Santos ©, Soolsma
Players to watch
Maicon Santos (2 goals, 1 assist)
Joao Plata (1 goal, 1 assist in few games) speedy little Ecuadorian
Tony Tchani – always an attacking threat from midfield (7 SOG, 1 goal)
Paladini & Bone
Get pre-game interviews. Good for them, good for unfamiliar fans to get to know them a little better.
Not cool
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by Tweed Thornton on May 14, 2011 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Yellow for Segares
Extends his arms throwing a breaking Soolsma to ground. One more yellow = suspension.
Long Balls
I’m getting really tired of these searching balls forward. I don’t think this is the possession soccer De Los Cobos had in mind.
Guzman pucks up yellow for TFC
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And now Paladini yellow. This is starting to feel like last year’s game at BMO Field
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Cuesta
Great looking run the length of the pitch before dishing off to Chaves. Too bad nothing came of it.
Oduro
Really looking dangerous on the counter attack late in the first half. One shot on goal denied, another break creates a shot on goal for Puerari.
Team play picked up no doubt. Hopefully boasts well for the second half. Maybe we’ll get Toronto fatigued.
The team is saying they don’t have a killer instinct right now. That’s for sure.
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by Tweed Thornton on May 14, 2011 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Second half kick-off
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Santos scores a long goal from distance
Toronto 2 – Chicago 0
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Bone makes a run, Frei makes the save
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comes in for Puerari
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by Tweed Thornton on May 14, 2011 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Nice deflection by Anibaba leads to a Fire scrum in the TFC box. Too many players going for the ball at the same time.
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Marco Pappa with a great free kick goal in the 64th minute.
Chicago Fire 1 – Toronto FC 2
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by Tweed Thornton on May 14, 2011 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions
First MLS Goal: Barouch! First MLS Assist: Bone! 2-2 at BMO Field!
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Barouch
Really having an impact as sub. Created the first set piece, and now the second goal. Good move DLC.
However, it makes you wonder what it would be like if we went 4-4-2 the whole game…
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by Tweed Thornton on May 14, 2011 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Husidic comes on for Chaves in 90th minute
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FINAL
Chicago 2 – Toronto 2
4 straight draws. Chicago Fire move up to 8 points but don’t gain any ground on the team above them, Toronto.
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