Soccer By Ives

MLS Notes: McBride has shoulder surgery, Harris traded to Dallas and more (UPDATED)

                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

The Chicago Fire is considered one of the deepest teams in Major League Soccer and will now have that depth tested as the Easter Conference power is forced to deal with the loss of star striker Brian McBride.

McBride is set to miss four to six weeks three to four months after undergoing shoulder surgery. Second-year forward Patrick Nyarko is expected to pick up the slack in McBride's absence. (UPDATE- McBride's initial prognosis was four to six weeks but the Fire announced on Friday evening that the damage to McBride's shoulder was worse than first thought.)

McBride leads the Fire in goals scored with six. He may now be out of action until September.

Here are some other MLS news items heading into the weekend:

SuperLiga: Fire 2, Revolution 1 (A Look Back)

(The Chicago Fire booked its place in the 2009 SuperLiga Final on Wednesday with it's 2-1 victory against an injury-depleted New England side. The Fire will now face Tigres in the final on Aug. 5. SBI correspondent was at the semifinal and gives us his report on the match.)

 

By CARL SETTERLUND

In soccer terms, being on the wrong side of thirty is an indicator that a player is in decline and can’t quite have the effect on the game that they used to. Yesterday, at Gillette Stadium, it was a bunch of thirty-somethings that put their stamp on the SuperLiga semifinals as a Cuauhtemoc Blanco free kick helped Chicago overcome a feisty New England squad, 2-1, to give the Fire its first chance at hardware this season.

Blanco replaces DeRosario on the MLS All-Star First XI

 

                                         Photo by ISIphotos.com

Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been selected to replace Toronto FC standout Dwayne DeRosario on the MLS All-Star Game First XI, MLS announced on Tuesday. DeRosario was voted to the First XI, but he will be unable to play in the All-Star game because Toronto FC has a CONCACAF Champions League game on July 29th, the same day The MLS All-Stars face Everton at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

Blanco was selected based on being the next highest vote-getter among midfielders, edging out Houston's Ricardo Clark on the strength of a disproportionate media vote in favor of Blanco (let's just say MLS wasn't exactly stingy with giving out media votes). Blanco drew more fan votes than Clark (which is to be expected), but Clark had twice the votes Blanco did from players and coaches/general managers. It was the media vote where Blanco crushed Clark, as well as Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso.

Mid-Day Musings (on MLS roster moves, Gold Cup roster slots and more)

 

As we grind our way from the post-Confederations Cup glow to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, things in the American soccer world have slowed down quite a bit. There was the rash of U.S. Open Cup upsets last night, tonight's much-anticipated Seattle SOunders-Portland Timbers Open Cup match, but not much else going on really.

There are still plenty of topics to address, so here are some notes, thoughts and topics to discuss this Wednesday:

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Wondering why that player is still on your MLS team's roster even though it seemed by all accounts that the player would be cut today, July 1st, when MLS contracts become guaranteed? You probably forgot that MLS teams are allowed to designate two players into a non-guaranteed mode after July 1st. Of course, the players have to agree to make that switch.

So why would a player agree to have that guaranteed protectection removed from their roster? They could be faced with either agreeing to that or being waived immediately. On rare occasions, such as with John Wolyniec last season, players survive that and stay the whole season. In cases such as Khano Smith, who sources tell me is one of the Red Bulls players to agree to that this season, it just means his departure from the team will come later. In Smith's case, it will probably come once Ernst Obster is eligible to join the Red Bulls on July 15th.

French club makes bid for Soumare

 

                                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, several MLS players are expected to be the subject of transfer offers in the coming weeks. Ricardo Clark, Sacha Kljestan, Marvell Wynne and Jonathan Bornstein are just some of the players who are expected to draw interest from Europe, but it is a player not on the U.S. national team who could be the first to make a move away from MLS.

An unidentified French First Division club has approached MLS with a transfer offer for Chicago Fire defender Bakary Soumare, sources with knowledge of the offer told SBI on Tuesday. Soumare, who has become a regular starter for the Mali national team, has drawn interest from European clubs because of his size and skill combination as well as the French passport he holds.

D.C. United 2, Chicago Fire 1: A Look Back

By TRAVIS CLARK

At the end of a tightly contested 90 minutes, D.C. United stood victorious, and with the result now sit in first place in the Eastern Conference. Their one point of breathing room in the standings equaled their margin of victory over the Fire last Saturday night.

The match had all the chipiness one would expect from such two bitter rivals facing off. Hard tackles and a stray elbow or two were visible. United rookies Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius most likely woke up the next morning with a bruise or two, as they were on the receiving end of a hard tackle or two.

Don't get me wrong, Chicago didn't come to RFK taking aim for the player and not the ball. They came out attacking, looking to feed balls to Brian McBride. Maybe it was their stellar road form, or perhaps their visit to the White House that inspired the confidence, but they didn't just park the bus in front of the net. This created one of the most exciting matches I've seen on the year.

D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire: A Look Ahead

By TRAVIS CLARK

The Chicago Fire has already had a big day, getting a chance to visit the White House and the Obamas at the White House. Hopefully that sideshow will be far from their mind as they face a difficult challenge against D.C. United at RFK Stadium on Saturday. First place is on the line as the two Eastern Conference rivals clash in what always provides an entertaining and fiery encounter.

Having already visited RFK once this season, the Fire managed to come from behind to salvage a point. Patrick Nyarko found the net that evening, one of two goals he's managed on the year. His side will be hoping to bounce back after suffering back-to-back losses at Toyota Park.

United can't really complain with their solid start to the 2009 season. With 19 points through 13 games this season, there is plenty to be positive about. The acquisition of Dejan Jakovic and the stellar play of veteran Bryan Namoff have helped to steady a defense that struggled mightily last season. Josh Wicks has brought a stabilizing presence to the goalie situation over the last couple of weeks, making a couple of strong saves to preserve a win against New York last week.

Going into Saturday's game, United will be without striker Luciano Emilio, who was sent off after throwing a temper tantrum after being subbed out against New York. While his presence will be missed, the depth Tom Soehn has available will make his loss less significant. Jaime Moreno, Chris Pontius, and Santino Quaranta are all options to step into the lineup as a forward.

Here is a closer look at this weekend's Eastern Conference showdown:

Houston Dynamo at Chicago Fire: Match Night Commentary

Good evening folks. There is one game on the MLS schedule tonight and it happens to be the best match-up of the week. The red-hot Houston Dynamo take on the Chicago Fire in a battle of top MLS teams.

Both squares are missing players due to national team commitments, but it is the Fire that must cope without Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Gonzalo Segares and Bakary Soumare. Chicago will look to rebound from a rough loss to FC Dallas last Sunday.

I will be providing live commentary on tonight's match so feel free to follow along here, and as always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action:

Chicago's last-minute penalty vs. Chivas USA: Legit call or bad joke?

If you stayed up to watch the Chicago Fire-Chivas USA match you saw a match marred by a boat-load of yellow cards (ten to be exact), a red card and three penalty kicks, the last of which left many observers wondering just what Terry Vaughn was thinking.

If you haven't seen the replay of the penalty that helped Chicago pull out a 3-2 victory on Thursday night, here it is:

As you might imagine, Chivas USA head coach Preki wasn't too happy with that call (or the referee's performance in general).

Morning Ticker: Fire downs Chivas USA, Pachuca drops first leg and more

 

Cuauhtemoc Blanco converted the second of two penalty kicks in second-half stoppage time to help give the Chicago Fire an improbable 3-2 comeback victory against Chivas USA on Thursday night.

The match ended in controversy when referee Terry Vaughn awarded a questionable penalty on an apparent push of Brian McBride by Mariano Trujillo in the penalty area. Blanco stepped to the line and buried the game winner.

The Fire looked on its way to its first loss of the season before late substitute Patrick Nyarko equalized in the 89th minute. Chivas USA were forced to play the final 27 minutes a man down after Jesse Marsch was issued a red card.

Here are some other stories to get your day started:

Top two teams in MLS set to square off (and an American prepares for a championship)

The two best teams in Major League Soccer will square off tonight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California when Chivas USA plays host to the Chicago Fire (10:30pm, ESPN2) in the season's best match-up today.

Chivas USA boasts the most points in the league, led by the midfield tandem of Jesse Marsch and Paolo Nagamura and rejuvenated goalkeeper Zach Thornton. The Fire come into the match undefeated for the season and having won two straight road games by a combined score of 3-0. Led by Brian McBride, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Wilman Conde, the Fire should pose the toughest test to date for the Goats.

That kickoff time might be a bit late for you East Coast soccer fans, but it isn't the only late-night viewing on tap. U.S. national team midfielder Jose Francisco Torres will help lead Pachuca against UNAM Pumas tonight in the first leg of the Mexican League championship (10pm, Telemundo).

Who do you see winning tonight's MLS showdown? Are you excited to see Torres gaining some championship experience? Will you be watching either match tonight, or will you find a way to watch both?

Share your thoughts below.

SBI's Mid-Day Musings (Notes on the U.S. Open Cup, Red Bulls and other MLS moves)

Today is one of those days where you watch the clock and count the minutes until game-time, making almost everything else you do in that time just a tad bit more difficult to do.

It's okay, we are all in that boat. I am trying to finish up the Bext XI, Worst XI, Team of the Week this afternoon, but am having a hard time getting it done. I will knock it out before 2pm for those of you who haven't abandoned your computers for a watch party by then.

If you're struggling to get through the day, here are some news, notes and soccer thoughts for you:

The Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, in U.S. Open Cup play-in action in Washington. The victory helped the Sounders join D.C. United, Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City in the full U.S. Open Cup field. Kevin Forrest scored the lone goal for Seattle. The schedule and opponents for the eight MLS teams should be released today.

Fire 1, Red Bulls 0: A look back

It was one of the New York Red Bulls better performances of the season, but still wasn't good enough for a single goal, let alone point. That is the type of season the Red Bulls are enduring, and the type of season the unbeaten Chicago Fire continue to enjoy.

Chicago didn't create many chances, and were outplayed for most of Sunday's match, but the Fire made the most of its best chance of the day to take the three points and help keep the struggling Red Bulls in last place in the Eastern Conference.

There was plenty of blame to go around in the Red Bulls camp for Sunday's defeat, from Juan Pablo Angel, who played like a shell of the player we have grown accustomed to seeing, to Alfredo Pacheco, who has gone from great signing to shaky acquisition in a matter of one mistake-filled month.

Then there was Juan Carlos Osorio, who failed once again to beat the team he left behind two years ago.

Here are some observations for both the Fire and Red Bulls from Sunday's match:

Chicago Fire at New York Red Bulls: Matchday Commentary

The New York Red Bulls take on the Chicago Fire at Giants Stadium today and the Red Bulls come in desperately needing points to catch up with the lead pack in the East. The Fire is in first place in the East and will look to extend its unbeaten streak to ten matches.

I will be providing commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Mid-Day Musings (U.S. Under-17s to play in Jersey, Red Bulls notes and more)

 

                                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

Good afternoon folks. As I make my way up to Connecticut for some ESPN matters, I wanted to let you all know that I will be appearing on the ESPN podcast, The U.S. Soccer Show, with ESPN.com's Jen Chang, Andrew Hush and David Mosse on Friday so give that a listen.

Here are some items to touch on before I head up I-95:

If you're a U.S. national team fan, or a New York Red Bulls fan, or both, you will have a chance to get a glimpse of the future on Friday when the Red Bulls Under-18 team faces the U.S. Under-17 national team in a friendly on Friday at 8:30pm at Lubetkin Field (campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology) in Newark. The Red Bulls Under-16 team will face a split-squad version of the U.S. Under-17 team at 6:30pm. Among the players expected to play is Red Bulls academy product and U.S. Under-17 striker John Agudelo. Admission to the games is free.

Why so many ties for the Fire?

By SAM STEJSKAL

The old saying is that tying is like kissing your sister. In general, that saying doesn’t hold true in soccer, where tying is often considered a successful result.

But when a team has tied five league matches in a row, in the process giving up home leads in the second half 3 times, draws start to feel a whole lot worse.

This situation is where the Chicago Fire currently find themselves, and although they could be in a much worse spot (they are undefeated after all), they have to be concerned with their inability to close out matches and take three points from games that (by all accounts) they deserve to win.

But why have the Fire been getting these results? Why are they tying games that they should be winning?

Simply put, the Fire are not focusing for the entire 90 minutes of the match. They have continually gotten ahead of teams, controlled possession, and looked the most likely to score, but have had multiple 2nd half letdowns.