Fire have tough task ahead
Some of the big names are missing, but the New York Red Bulls arrive at Toyota Park today with most of their star-packed roster.
Thierry Henry will be back from a red-card suspension when the Red Bulls meet the Chicago Fire at 1 p.m. in a game that can be seen on ESPN. Dwayne De Rosario, Mehdi Ballouchy and Dane Richards are familiar to MLS fans. Roy Miller and Jan Gunnar Solli are two of the best outside backs in the league, and Joel Lindpere and Teemu Tainio are underrated midfielders.
“This is (the biggest) challenge that we've faced in the last five games,” Fire defender Cory Gibbs told MLSsoccer.com. “With all of the threats that they have, all of the pace that they have and the technique that they have it'll be a big challenge for us.”
While Fire midfielder Marco Pappa is back from Gold Cup duty, the Red Bulls are still missing central defenders Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Tim Ream (United States) and forward Juan Agudelo (United States), all of whom were in Pasadena, Calif., for Saturday night's Gold Cup final.
The Red Bulls lead the league with 26 goals scored in 16 games and are in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Welcoming party: He's wearing different colors these days, but the Fire threw a small party for former defender C.J. Brown following Wednesday's game against Real Salt Lake. After retiring last fall Brown took a job as a RSL assistant coach.#8220;This has probably been one of the hardest things that I've had to do, I think,#8221; Brown said after a postgame ceremony honoring his 13-year Fire playing career. #8220;Listening and watching when they did the video, I think I've seen some of those clips before, and it finally settled in that I'm not here anymore. It was a little tough, but I do appreciate the years that I've been here. #8220;All the fan support, all the support from the Chicago Fire, the staff and my family made it a fast 13 years. I was just playing and doing what I love, and now I get to move on in the coaching part. I've always wanted to stay a part of the game, and RSL is allowing me to do that. Jason (Kreis) thought I'd fit in well with their group and I was very appreciative to allow me to come out there and try and help coach a very good team.#8221;Back to the Open Cup: The Fire travels to Rochester, N.Y., for Tuesday's third-round U.S. Open Cup date against the Rochester Rhinos. The match will be streamed live at Chicago-Fire.com starting at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Fire's Premier Development League squad also is still alive in the all-levels tournament, traveling to play Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday night.SOC28513001The Fires Diego Chaves hustles down field in the first half Wednesday at Toyota Park. The game ended in a scoreless tie. (AP Photo/John Smierciak)associated pressSOCSOC30974000The New York Red Bulls Joel Lindpere, right, and Seattle Sounders Mauro Rosales tangle at midfield during the first half Thursday in Seattle.associated pressSOCSOC38252469The New York Red Bulls Joel Lindpere, ground left, takes down the Seattle Sounders Mauro Rosales during the first half Thursday in Seattle.associated pressSOC