For Fire rejoicing, relief ... and work to do
The celebrating is over.
The sense of relief has subsided.
The Fire has work to do.
Sunday's 1-0 victory at Columbus lifted the burden of an 11-game winless streak. Now the Fire is focused on getting a winning streak going.
“I think that it gives the players more confidence in the work that we do every day, but I think that we're level-headed because it's one win,” technical director/interim coach Frank Klopas said after training Wednesday.
“It was a relief to our shoulders,” admitted left back Gonzalo Segares. “We were frustrated this season that we weren't able to get the results. Finally getting one our way is pretty good.
“We always want to build up on stuff like that. We're playing well defensively. We definitely want to do better, though, because we got lucky a couple of times, so we've got to keep improving on that.”
The Fire (2-4-8, 14 points) gets its chance to build some momentum when it plays at New England (3-7-4, 13 points) on Saturday (6:30 p.m., Comcast SportsNet).
“We're going to get our chances,” Segares said. “It's just about putting them in the net. We got plenty of chances against Columbus, and finally we got one in at the end.”
All those ties, while frustrating, have paid off. Instead of talking about a winless streak, the Fire now can talk about a four-game unbeaten streak and about climbing the Eastern Conference table.
“We know that we're improving,” Segares said. “Two (wins) in a row and we're definitely right there in the mix. ... In these next two games we can make a big jump from being eighth to fourth or fifth. So it's really important.”
The Fire jumped to sixth place, 2 points behind D.C. United, 4 behind third-place Houston and Columbus.
Then there's the three consecutive shutouts the defense has registered, a streak of 286 minutes without allowing a goal.
“But we can't let it go to our heads. Three games is nothing. We've still got a lot of games left. ... We don't want to go back to the old days. We want to keep it as it is right now, being mentally aware for the 90 minutes,” Segares said.
“It's the whole team, though,” Klopas said. “It's not just the (back line). It's the mentality of the whole group. It's two things: transition is the key. When you have the ball you always have to be organized so when you lose the ball you're able to defend. And when you're defending you have to be organized and you have to be thinking, If I win the ball can I attack now?”
Now the whole team is thinking about attacking the rest of the season.
“Every time you get a win you get more confident,” rookie forward Orr Barouch said. “We've been playing good. We just haven't been able to put the ball in the back of the net.”
So long, Gaston:Uruguayan forward Gaston Puerari has been sold from the Fire to Mexican side Club Atlas, opening salary-cap space and an international roster spot.Puerari, 25, was acquired over the winter. The Pardo rumors:Fire technical director/interim coach Frank Klopas said the club is not in talks with Mexican international Pavel Pardo, despite rumors that he's headed to Chicago.#8220;He's a good player, he's a quality player, but always we have to see what's the right decision for the club,#8221; Klopas said. #8220;There are many players that we're looking at.#8221;Pardo, a midfielder, turns 35 years old next month.Honoring C.J.:The Fire will honor club legend C.J. Brown after next Wednesday's home game against Real Salt Lake. Brown, a Fire original, retired after last season, his 13th with the club. He's now an RSL assistant coach.A day of rest:The Fire gave goalkeeper Sean Johnson the day off from practice Wednesday to rest and heal some of the bumps and bruises goalkeepers acquire when throwing their bodies around the penalty area. #8220;They train hard every day,#8221; Klopas said. #8220;I want to put the whole team through a goalkeeper training one time. It's not easy. It's pretty demanding.#8221;The Fire is as healthy as it's been in a while. Defender Josip Mikulic is recovering from a broken clavicle and training with the team. Defender Steven Kinney and midfielder Mike Banner are about a month away from getting a chance to see their first playing time of the season.oschwarz@dailyherald.comSOC15722857Sporting Kansas Citys Graham Zusi leaps over the Fires Dominc Oduro during an MLS match June 9 at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.Associated PressSOCSOC34412201Fireworks erupted on the soccer pitch moments before Sporting Kansas Citys first home game in their new stadium at the Legends on June 9 against the Chicago Fire at the inaugural game at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.Associated PressSOC