When the Chicago Fire host the Philadelphia Union Wednesday night at Toyota Park, they begin their busiest month of 2011 and one that will certainly go a long way in determining the team’s playoff fate.
It’s been 18 days since a stinging 1-0 defeat to expansion Portland saw the Fire go into the quasi All-Star break on July 16. Of course there was that impressive performance a week later against Manchester United, a game which saw the Fire lead the 19-time English champs for 53 minutes before falling 3-1 in front of a record Soldier Field crowd.
Fire leading goal scorer Dominic Oduro hopes the team will use the performance against the Red Devils to help spur a second half resurgence and playoff push for a side that currently sits bottom of the Eastern Conference, albeit with up to four games in hand on those ahead of them.
“It’s the second half of the season, we know where we are on the table, it’s not like we are ignorant,” he said Tuesday. “Looking at our game against United, the way we played, our motivation, our fight, everything -- we’re ready to go out there and do the same thing, with the same mentality. We have a mission to turn it around and that starts with this game against Philly. I think we’re going with that mentality, pretty much what we are going through the whole game again with more intensity.”
Oduro, who has had a self-described career rebirth since being traded from Houston for Calen Carr one match into the season has tallied six goals across all competitions in 2011 for the Fire and has been the club’s most consistent threat in the attack. It was his 67th minute goal in the May 21 encounter at PPL Park that pulled things level before Carlos Ruiz let loose with a 75th minute golazo that gave the Union all three points in the match.
“It was a fantastic game for me personally. For the team, I think we did well. I don’t think we should have come out losing that game. They are a good team right now and are fixing a lot of things from last year. They’re really playing well and have found ways to grind out results, that’s been key to their success.”
Led by former Fire captain Peter Nowak, the Union (8-5-7; 31 points) sit second in the East, just three points back of leaders Columbus Crew with two games in hand. Despite their success in the first half of the season, the side obviously missed the soon-to-be departed Ruiz in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Colorado and will be without Sheanon Williams Wednesday night after the right back was issued a red card for dissent in the match.
Logan Pause to tie Chris Armas Wednesday night
If he steps on the field Wednesday night, Chicago Fire captain Logan Pause will tie his longtime midfield mentor Chris Armas for third on the club’s all-time regular season appearances list at 213 matches.
Asked about the accomplishment Tuesday, Pause showed great respect and humility for the former Fire captain saying, “That sure is a lot of games. What Chris Armas did while he was here goes well beyond the number of games he played. I guess it’s up there for me, I’ve been around a while, but I don’t even like, nor deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as that guy.”
The Fire veteran midfielder moved into fourth place earlier this season, passing Jesse Marsch at 200 and with an appearance tonight will sit just one game behind second place Zach Thornton at 214.
The acquisitions of Pavel Pardo and Sebastian Grazzini last month raised flags as to what the nine-year Fire veteran’s role would be in what has increasingly become a crowded midfield, with the captain saying he would he would move to right back or even to the bench to compliment to the new midfield corps.
With both players set to make their MLS debuts for the Fire Wednesday night, Pause was positive about what the duo would bring to the team moving forward.
“It’s a process that we have to be sure is will take a little bit of time. We don’t have a ton of time so it’s definitely an accelerated learning curve for all of us and for them. When you bring guys with that amount of experience, you don’t need as much time. They’ve played in the best leagues across the world. We’re happy to have them and we’re definitely going to need their leadership and ability.”
Jeff Crandall is the Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.
