Fire gets chance to regroup against struggling United
This is an unusual situation.
Throughout their histories, the Fire and D.C. United have been among the top teams in Major League Soccer. But each of them enters Saturday's meeting in D.C. winless.
The Fire at least has a point to show for its efforts thanks to a tie at Colorado. United is struggling like no other team in the league, having already given up a league-worst 9 goals in three losses.
"It's a very difficult, very tough game for the situation of the two teams," coach Carlos de los Cobos said after practice Wednesday.
To make United's situation even worse, starting center backs Dejan Jakovic (red card) and Juan Manuel Pena will miss the game and midfielder Brandon Barklage (concussion). First-year coach Curt Onalfo is running out of options. One possibility is Chris Pontius moving to midfield from forward.
"We're hoping to come in and win," Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic said. "We need a win. We've got 1 point out of 9 points. That's not very acceptable right now."
Changes: Krzysztof Krol and Dasan Robinson supplanted Deris Umanzor and Tim Ward at left back and right back, respectively, when the team scrimmaged 10v10 at Wednesday's practice. Afterward coach Carlos de los Cobos said Krol and Robinson could start Saturday night.
Ward, a revelation last year, had a difficult game Saturday against San Jose and was directly involved in the plays that led to both San Jose goals.
Umanzor joined the Fire roster last week in time to play and saw 63 minutes at left back before Krol replaced him.
"To be honest it wasn't the best at all," Umanzor said through a team translator. "It wasn't the way that I wanted to play, but hopefully I can improve the next game."
Umanzor is the second man who played for de los Cobos on the El Salvador national team to join the Fire. Julio Martinez started the season opener at right midfield, came out in the second half and hasn't seen the field since. Krol also is new to the team, having joined the Fire on loan in the off-season.
"I don't like the performance of Deris in the last match," de los Cobos said. "He's a very good player but will have a good competition with Krol because Krol is improving."
In the middle: Midfielder Baggio Husidic got his first start of the season last week in place of the injured Logan Pause.
"It went pretty well," said the former Libertyville High School and UIC player. "Unfortunately we lost. It's not a good thing when you get your first start and the team loses. It's a bit upsetting, but I was glad to get my first start."
Husidic came off at halftime so Marco Pappa could move inside from left midfield, just as he did the week before against Colorado.
"(Coach Carlos de los Cobos) told me I played well, and I think it was more of an offensive move. He likes to move Pappa into the middle because he's more of an attacking player," Husidic said.
Husidic could get the start again Saturday night because injuries probably will cause Logan Pause and John Thorrington to miss the game.
Reserve forward Calen Carr and rookie defender Steven Kinney also are a little banged up these days. Like Thorrington, neither has seen action yet this season.
The Green team: The Fire is calling its next home match (April 24 against Houston) Fire Goes Green day, in honor of Earth Day.
The players will wear white jerseys with green numbers and lettering, and fans at the match will have a chance to bid on the jerseys, which the players will autograph after the game. Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation.