Preview: Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire

CelticKing · Sep 13, 2008

Preview: Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire

Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire
When: 3:00 pm ET
Where: Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
TV: Telefutura

The Gist: Chicago, the league's best road team, heads west looking to win in the thin air of Colorado for the first time since the nation was still talking about Bill and Monica.

The Rapids are still very much alive in the Western Conference playoff hunt, sitting three points behind Chivas for the third and final guaranteed playoff spot.

Meanwhile, the Fire look to keep pace with New England, who waxed Chivas USA 4-0 Thursday night to move three points clear in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Fire should be boosted by the return of three key starters from international duty: Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Gonzalo Segares and Marco Pappa.

In the teams' only meeting this season, John Thorrington notched two goals as the Fire edged the Rapids 2-1 back in April.

Why You Should Care: One simple question will determine the outcome of this match: Where will the Rapids find a goal? The Fire have the stingiest defense in the MLS, allowing a league-low 18 goals in 23 matches. Meanwhile, Conor Casey, the Rapids' leading scorer is in doubt with an ankle injury. If Casey is out, the goalscoring onus will fall to Tom McManus, the team's second leading scorer with four goals.

Blanco returns to the Fire midfield, fresh off his international retirement from Mexico. Newly freed from his duties with El Tri, Blanco can now focus exclusively on the Fire's playoff push. Pablo Mastroeni will be primarily responsible for shutting down Blanco in central midfield.

The Rapids earned a huge three points in their last match, winning 1-0 at Dallas. The win salvaged a road trip which saw them lose their first two games at D.C. United and Real Salt Lake by a combined 5-0 scoreline. Keeping momentum will be difficult if Casey is out.

An intriguing figure in this match will be Christian Gomez. The 2006 league MVP has been much maligned this season, but could have a say in this match, especially if Casey is out. His lack of work ethic and fitness has reportedly irked the Rapids, and he has been a fixture on the team's bench as of late. However, he still has the talent to produce a moment of magic, and that might be precisely what the Rapids need to score against the Fire’s league leading defense.

He's So Hot Right Now: Jon Busch. Speaking of Busch, he might not garner many MVP votes, but the Chicago keeper is turning in one of the greatest seasons in league history. He leads the league in every major statistical category and has appeared in all 23 matches this season for the Fire. He is on a record-setting pace with a 0.78 GAA, besting the current record of 0.82 set by Houston’s Pat Onstad last season.
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CelticKing · Sep 13, 2008

Rapids 1 - 1 Fire

Colonel Ronan · Sep 13, 2008

I'm hoping for a Rapids win. I hate the Fire.

CelticKing · Sep 13, 2008

^ M21 won't like that. lol

M Two One · Sep 14, 2008

I don't care, I live here so I know people hate us for having one of the largest fan bases and the most and best ultras groups in the league. If we didn't I wouldn't even support a team in the MLS.

Fire 2 : 0 Rapids

Colonel Ronan · Sep 14, 2008

MLS? Ultras? I must of misread your post. Hehe.

Nah, just because you kicked us out of the title last season. The first time I saw DC play we beat ya 3-0, go Emilio!

man_u_barmy_army · Sep 14, 2008

Where did Wanchope go from fire?

M Two One · Sep 14, 2008

Yeah, but the Fire have won 4 U.S. Open Cups and the city has the USA NT HQ.

man_u_barmy_army said: ↑

Where did Wanchope go from fire?
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He retired. They picked up Brian McBride though.

agoo · Sep 14, 2008

Wanchope was nothing in MLS. He was done before he got there.

M Two One · Sep 14, 2008

I agree with that. lol

agoo · Sep 14, 2008

Wanchope and Denilson were the anti-Beckhams for the MLS. I know there's the stigma that every designated player is just coming for that last pay check. In the case of Wanchope and Denilson, that was the case.

man_u_barmy_army · Sep 15, 2008

I agree although they were great players in their prime.

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Preview: Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire

CelticKing The Green Monster

CelticKing The Green Monster

Colonel Ronan Continue...?

CelticKing The Green Monster

M Two One Halló Veröld!

Colonel Ronan Continue...?

man_u_barmy_army DYC Legend +Young Prodigy

M Two One Halló Veröld!

agoo Member

M Two One Halló Veröld!

agoo Member

man_u_barmy_army DYC Legend +Young Prodigy

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