Chicago Fire at Toronto FC: Your Running Commentary
The task for Toronto FC is simple, though difficult. TFC must win today to avoid becoming the first Eastern Conference officially eliminated from the playoffs. Win its last two games and hope that other things fall into place and Toronto could overcome an awful second half of the season to reach the playoffs.
Chicago doesn't have such worries. The Fire is in the playoffs and the only thing it is worried about at this point is securing home-field against New England in the first round of the playoffs.
Today will also offer up a Brian McBride vs. Chad Barrett match-up. Chicago traded Barrett to Toronto for the rights to McBride in a deal that has worked out for both teams. That won't stop Barrett from trying to show the Fire that it made a mistake.
If you will be watching today's match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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anybody know of any streams ?
Posted by: slyboy | October 18, 2008 at 03:24 PM
slyboy,
Live streaming at mlsnet.com but you have to pay 4.99
Posted by: kk | October 18, 2008 at 03:36 PM
More streaming options
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=21422&part=sports
http://www.justin.tv/globalhdsport
(fyi: globalhdsport is showing a movie right now, but should be switching to the game)
Posted by: emanon | October 18, 2008 at 03:42 PM
What a terrible feed from MY50!
Posted by: chicagosoccerguy | October 18, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Wynee with a nice move around Conde and draws a PK for TFC when Conde hacks him down just inside the box.
Ricketts PK attempt is saved but the rebound is pounced on by Ricketts and the score is now 2-0 in the 18'.
Posted by: DCM | October 18, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Excuse the typo on Wynne's name
Posted by: DCM | October 18, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Wonderstrike by Guevara.
Soft penalty called (great dive by marvel Wynne)
Toronto lead 2-0
i hate TFC
Posted by: Slyboy | October 18, 2008 at 04:09 PM
GOAL MAPPPPPPP
Posted by: chicagosoccerguy | October 18, 2008 at 04:10 PM
TFC 3-1 Chicago at the half.
Posted by: DCM | October 18, 2008 at 04:34 PM
god our defense is playing crap... altho this game has little meaning for the Fire, except working to obtain 2nd place in the league...
either way, the fire need to slow it down and play some more control... when we controlled it for about 20 min, we looked good.... however, when TFC controlled the other 27, we looked crap....
Conde with a crap tackle...
noone following the missed pk...
and Ricketts with a wonder goal, going to be up for goal of the week...
game is most likely over... unless the Fire can go crazy on the score board... quite possible, but getting 2 goals is hard enough as the Fire offense :(
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Entertaining game. MLS Direct Kick (or whatever they call it) is a hell of a bargain.
Posted by: Tony in Quakeland | October 18, 2008 at 04:39 PM
The Fire continue to struggle against teams that beat them up.
Posted by: Jeffrey | October 18, 2008 at 04:49 PM
dont know if my last post got through...
bring in Nyarko and Pappa now... our offense needs LIFE!!!
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 04:56 PM
BMB to BLANCO FOR A STUNNER!!!!
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:02 PM
TFC 3-2 FIRE
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:02 PM
What a Great! dive by Freeman!
Posted by: Slyboy | October 18, 2008 at 05:11 PM
slyboy- irony would have it that TFC's defender did the same thing to Thorington in the first but instead he went shoulders down and drove thor down to the ground... yet the announcers applauded it as good defense...
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:14 PM
The Toronto announcers are very good, by the way...
Posted by: Tony in Quakeland | October 18, 2008 at 05:16 PM
i agree... they are non-bias and they know their stuff... am not complaining about that...
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Not Herron!
why not Nyarko!
Posted by: Slyboy | October 18, 2008 at 05:25 PM
why herron??? :( unless he scores, then ill say GOOD CALL HAMMY
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:28 PM
slyboy- i agree... ive been saying it fromt he 60th min.... at least Pappa is in :-/
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:29 PM
>.< banner!!! why throw it right to marshall!!!
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:31 PM
sub at the 87th?? me thinks a time wasta
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:31 PM
uggg... Fire play crap for the good chunk of the 1st half and paid for it with 3 goals.... a better 2nd but i am starting to get pissed with Hamlett... there is no excuse at pulling Herron on instead of Nyarko (unless he's injured).... this is frustrating, b/c we have the players but cant seem to get them working together
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Brett- You are right, sometimes it looked like Chicago just didnt have the drive.
But Mcbride and Blanco played very well today i dont think it falls on them.
Posted by: Slyboy | October 18, 2008 at 05:44 PM
hey ives i got a question for the next q&a
Why is Andy Herron a soccer player?
Posted by: DWR | October 18, 2008 at 05:54 PM
DWR- i got the answer....
to piss of Fire fans???
oh well, there is no way Hamlett is keeping Herron next season, so lets expect this...
Herron and Frankowski are gone next season... Carr could very well be gone as well, although his hustle is something to admire, but lack of touch is very agitating... SO....
possible OUT:
-Frankowski
-Herron
-Conde (perhaps depending on offers and if he wants to)
-CJ (wants to stay but getting 3 games PT hurts his chances)
-Guiterez (no leads on retiring but getting up there in age, plus limited PT as well..)
the fire could come into a large chunk of $$$... we need a right winger to compete with Thor.... we need to play rolfe as a forward plain in simple... and with all the openings up top, perhaps we could find some more competitive forwards to meet up with Rolfe/BMB/Nyarko
Posted by: brett | October 18, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Why possibly injure nyarko on turf for a game that doesn't have HUGE implications? I don't like to see Herron out there- but risking Nyarko is not necessary
Posted by: chicagosoccerguy | October 18, 2008 at 06:08 PM
TOR - ONT - oooOOOOooooooOOO!
Great game from the boys, and a very entertaining last home game for the season.
- Scott
Posted by: Shakes | October 18, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Fred Bradley said the Fire were the sleeper team in the playoffs.
I believe him because the Fire were asleep today.
Posted by: Front Row | October 18, 2008 at 07:48 PM
brett - gutierrez has already announced this is his last season
i believe hamlett didn't want to reaggravate nyarko's knee injury by playing him on the turf. smart call if true, as this wasn't a do or die match. i would've liked to see pappa subbed in sooner though.
loved the blanco goal. perfect service from rolfe, and nice play by mcbride into the open space.
Posted by: firefan06 | October 18, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Ives, you better get up here for a nice and warm weekend game next season...not no mid-week, rainy and cold things!
Posted by: Mel | October 19, 2008 at 07:26 PM