Chicago Fire vs. Portland Timbers MLS #20: 7:30 PM CST CSN
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 16, 2011 2:44 PM CDT
in Fire Previews & Recaps
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The Portland Timbers come into Toyota Park on a downfall from a once mighty rise. Portland's victory over the Fire back in April launched the Timbers' 5 game home winning streak that prompted JELD-WEN Field to be called a fortress. Between April 1st and May 21st, Portland went 5-1-2 and even took a draw from Seattle on the road. It looked like the Timber's would replicate their arch-rivals expansion success and compete for a playoff spot. All that has vanished as the Northwest club enters the game with the season slipping away after losing 6 of their last 7 games. The only non-loss in that span was a 3-3 draw against the New York Red Bulls on June 19th. Kenny Cooper who looked so great against Chicago when the teams last faced off is now rumored to be on the trading block due to poor performance. Portland had a dagger to the heart last week when the Sounders came into JEN-WELD Field and came back twice with 2 goals in the last 16 minutes of play to walk away with a victory.
More on Chicago, the game, and in-game comments after the break.
Chicago enters the game on a bit of a resurgence. This Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup game came with high drama as the start time had to be shifted up to 5:00 PM due to a power failure in Bridgeview. The Fire roundly defeated the Red Bulls 4-0. New York sent a B team to play but a win is a win. The atmosphere at Toyota Park this Tuesday was electric despite the lack of power and it marked the second U.S. Open Cup victory for Chicago in as may weeks. The overall roster was bolstered by the addition of Argentinian Sebastian Grazzini on Wednesday. Grazzini certainly won't start and might not even sub in but the fresh blood will keep players on their toes and has the fan base excited.
Both teams enter the game with 18 points and badly need a win. I think Chicago has the edge in good vibrations and I'd be shocked if the club let's themselves become Portland's first road victory. Never say never as their no anger like losing to our arch-rival anger. In a battle of emotions, Chicago 3 - Portland 1. This could be the breakout game Chicago has been looking for.
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Starting XI
Johnson; Anibaba, Cuesta, Gibbs, Segares; Pappa, Pause ©, Paladini, Nyarko; Oduro, Nazarit
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Subs: Conway; Ristic; Robinson; Videira; Bone, Husidic; Barouch
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Portland XI
GK Perkins, D Hall, D Goldthwaite, D Futty, D Wallace, M Jewsbury, M Marcelin, M Chara, M Alhassan, F Nagbe, F Perlaza
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Portland Subs
Brown, Horst, Purdy, Moffat, Zizzo, Johnson, Cooper
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
David Horst on for Kevin Goldthwaite in the 10th minute.
Goldwaite jumped up to block a ball and landed on his foot the wrong way.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Sean Johnson with some killer saves so far
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Jewsbuy scores PK.
Perlaza went down pretty easily when Segares made contact in the box
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
that last save
by Perkins was insane.
by juliancasablancas on Jul 16, 2011 9:32 PM CDT reply actions
Perkins was clearly the Man of the Match. That save on Pappa might be the Save of the Year.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 16, 2011 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions
It is. The play of the PDL side has been very encouraging. We’ll have more on the PDL side in the upcoming days. A playoff chase and the Fire not having a regular season game certainly helps.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 16, 2011 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Final Score: 1-0 Portland. Internet access got iffy and the game didn’t change.
With the loss, Chicago lost the season series to an expansion team 5-2 in goals and gave Portland their first ever road victory. All the worse after Portland had lost 6 of their last 7 games.
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
by Tweed Thornton on Jul 16, 2011 11:23 PM CDT reply actions
Tough loss...
Good crowd on hand and S8 was loud as usual. The reffing was suspect and Perkins did make some nice saves. Gibbs header off the post would have been nice to have gone in. Hopefully Grazzini can bring something to the table…he should have plenty of time to be ready for the Philly game.
For what it’s worth and those that didn’t know, HTIOT retweeted that Pardo was seen at TP last night with a Fire exec. When asked, Klopas said “he likes Chicago”. Interesting…
Hot Time In Old Town SB Nation's blog for Chicago Fire, Soccer, & Chicago History
Tradition. Honor. Passion.
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