Oduro’s big season could have been even bigger

Dominic Oduro could have spent a little extra time in the hot tub after last week’s 1-1 draw vs. D.C. United.

He could have washed away the feeling of missing four golden chances to score in an extra-long shower.

He could have found a reason to hide in the trainer’s room at Toyota Park.

Instead he stood in front of his locker as the media walked over and he patiently answered questions, admitting his frustration over his performance that night.

And on Sunday Oduro scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season in a 2-0 Fire win over Toronto FC. Two more and Oduro can become the first Fire player since Damani Ralph in 2004 to score in double figures.

Without Oduro scoring those 8 goals, the Fire’s record might be even worse than the current 3-7-15. But if he had finished some of the golden chances he’s had much of the season, like the chances he missed against United, the Fire’s record also would be better than 3-7-15.

That’s the conundrum with Oduro, who had never scored more than 5 goals in a season. He’s having a career year, but just imagine how good it might have been.

“You’re going to have guys that hate you, guys who love you. No matter what you do, somebody’s going to like you, somebody’s going to not like you,” Oduro said Tuesday.

“I’m a forward. It’s bound for me to miss chances and create chances and score goals. It’s up to me to go out there and prove it to them. The last game against D.C. was a little bit frustrating for me. I could’ve buried a couple of chances, but I did all the right things. One hit the post, the goalie made some saves. ... It wasn’t like it was all bad. I was right there. I was doing all the right things. I just have to keep going.”

Oduro was a steal in the trade that brought him to Chicago this spring for forward Calen Carr, but Fire fans also are seeing why the 26-year-old Ghanaian didn’t stick in New York, Dallas and Houston. It wasn’t because he didn’t fit into the locker room.

“I’m here to help the team out,” Oduro said. “I’m here to help the team and go 110 percent.”

His speed will amaze you, his first touch can disappoint you.

It’s worth the price of admission just to see him race the length of the field on a counterattack, with or without the ball, but he needs to improve what he does at the end of that run.

“It’s a tool. It’s a weapon that I have, it’s a talent that I have,” Oduro said of his fast feet. “You can’t teach somebody how to run that fast. It has to be a talent, and I thank God for that. As you can see it has helped me, and it’s still helping me right now on the field. Opponents have to think twice when they try to step up. It’s something that I’m really proud to have.”

Love him or hate him, possibly both, Oduro might finally have found a MLS home.

oschwarz@dailyherald.com

Follow Orrin Schwarz on Twitter @orrinsoccer.