The Third Post is back. The MLS is back, and the Fire are also back. After three weeks off due the prestigious Concacaf Nations League, and the smaller tournaments like Copa America and the Euros the Fire picked up right where they left off on Saturday losing 2-0 to Columbus.
In the two games before the three week international break the Fire were showing some signs of life. They out-shot their opponents in both games, and really should have managed more than just the one goal against Inter Miami, but at least they held on for the win in that game. The loss to Montreal was especially painful considering they gave up a goal in the 87th minute, and dominated the game racking up a 2.0 xg (expected goals) to just 0.6 xg for Montreal.
In the game against Columbus Raphael Wicky made a few changes to his team, giving Carlos Terán, and Ignacio Aliseda their first starts of the season. Terán partnered Francisco Calvo in the center of the defense becoming the third different player to partner with Calvo this season. Unfortunately for Terán he looked like a player making his first start. He was uneasy in possession, and guilty of getting caught out of position on too many occasions. The most costly being in the 34th minute when he didn’t step up with Calvo and kept Gyasi Zardes onside allowing him to set up the Crew’s second goal, effectively sealing the victory for the Crew in the first half. A comeback seemed especially unlikely, considering the Fire have only managed four goals all season (second fewest in the league).
In addition to starting Aliseda, and Terán, Wicky also chose to start Chinoso Offor as the center forward instead of Robert Berić, apparently because Berić had been in Europe during the three week break to complete his green card process. Stojanović was also left on the bench for the same reason. So with the Fire behind 2-0 at halftime Wicky brought both players on to start the second half, and despite creating a few more chances they still didn’t manage a single shot on target in the second period. By the end of the game the Fire seemed resigned to defeat.
FC Cincinnati
Which brings us to tonight’s game against fellow basement dwellers F.C. Cincinnati. I wrote a few weeks ago that it was too early to panic and call any game a must win, but tonight is definitely entering that territory. The Fire have 9 of the next 11 games at home, and if they start that stretch with a loss to the arguably the worst team in MLS things will start to get even uglier real fast.
With that in mind, I expect Wicky to rely on his experienced players tonight, which probably means a return to the bench for homegrown player Brian Gutierrez. I think the front three of Berić, flanked by Aliseda, and Herbers with Stojanović playing as a 10, should be good enough to create chances against Cincy, but whether the defense can limit their mistakes at the back is a real question mark. If the Fire want to have any chance of salvaging this season, they have to get all three points tonight.
The Re-brand
Finally, I suppose it’s not all doom and gloom for the Fire this week. The club unveiled their new crest, to replace the current “new” crest. And I have to say it’s not too bad. A little too much of a Cubs vibe for me personally, but all things considered it’s pretty good.
Although it does remind me of a conversation I had one time with my friend Dave. He had recently moved into the city from Indiana and commented that he’d noticed lots of, let’s refer to them as Chicago Rec Sports Bros, sporting a Chicago flag tattoo. He wondered aloud how long someone had to live in the City before they were required to get the flag tattoo? Based on the Fire’s new crest I’d say the answer, for a professional sports team anyway, is just over a year.
The even better news is that the Fire will return to Red uniforms in the 2024 season. So overall, I’d say the re-brand part II is a win, here’s hoping the Fire can match the off-field win, with an actual win on the field.
How to Watch
6/23
7:00 pm. Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati
WGN, ChicagoFireFC.com livestream for local residents, ESPN+ nationally
