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Puro Futbol Online
Fire can’t win at home On Fire: My View
By Ethan C. Bontly/ Puro Futbol Staff
Bridgeview, IL – The Chicago Fire failed to beat archenemy Columbus Crew on a near perfect evening before a season high crowd of 18,123 at Toyota Park much to the displeasure of a bullish Fire Manager Denis Hamlett.
When asked at the post match press conference if he learned anything from tonight’s match he took several seconds to respond, pausing, asking for the question to be repeated, then said ‘I don’t really understand the question.’ When the question was repeated but slightly worded differently, the longtime Fire assistant coach, but only in his second full season as Manager said ‘I don’t know’, a cynical response to several reporters questioning the lack of wins at home.
The bizarre and strange responses continued when pressed further as to why the team recently could not win at home. ‘You guys worry about that,’ Hamlett said. "We go out there to win the game. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn't.’
Even with 18 total shots, 11 of them on goal, it was the poor finishing by McBride, Blanco, Papa, and Rolfe that did the team in, failing to score on several key chances. Or the outstanding goalkeeping of William Hesmer that won out, depending on what side of the coin you flip.
Regular starters for Chicago Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) and Logan Pause (USA) were on international duty for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Columbus was without Chad Marshall (USA) and Robbie Roggers (USA), while striker Alejandro Moreno was also left off the team sheet.
In the 4th minute Garey found himself free on the left flat only to shank the perfect Guillermo Barros Schelotto cross off his shin. It would be a reoccurring theme for much of the first half as the tireless play of Eddie Gaven and Schelotto went unrewarded with the main culprit Garey failing to finish.
Shortly after, in the 5th minute, it was now Gaven working well down the right, only this time his cross was misplayed by the left midfielder racing in from the left and shot over the goal and out of play.
The Fire had yet another chance in the 17th minute, with good work on the right was played out for a corner. The resulting Blanco corner found the head of McBride but his was unable to find the goal and sent the ball over the bar.
Disaster almost struck in the 19th minute from the poor play of Woolard, the seldom used defender only making is 3rd start of the year. Indecisiveness caused him to lose the ball just inside the half which was quickly picked up by Columbus, finding Gaven deep down the right.
In the 22nd minute Husidic raced clean down the right with some cleaver work, playing the ball into Rolfe who eventually has his shot deflected out for a corner. It was the overall quality play from the rookie that has many Fire supporters excited.
In the 25th minute as series of chances that should have put the Fire up failed to break the deadlock. First it was Marco Papa doing well working in from the right eluding a defender chipping the GK from 4 yards out, only for a defender to clear the ball off the line and out for a corner. The resulting two corners required Hesmer to make two quality saves to keep the score level.
In the 38th after some great work from McBride on the left, Papa found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat, however his touch failed him and he kicked the ball straight at him.
It was then Kennedy again who was at the center of attention, this time in the 44th minutes. Baggio made way to the top of the box after racing onto a well time chest pass from McBride at nearly half, only for Kennedy to fail to acknowledge the blatant shirt pull.
The Fire started the 2nd half with the same lineup, opening with an attacking flare that resulted in several untidy challenges by poor and at times desperate Columbus defense.
In the 58th minute a nice give and go between Ward and Blanco found Ward advancing from the right through on goal to the six where his off balance shot went wide. A minute latter it was Blanco with a superb strike that required the very best from Hesmer.
The buildup started off a Bush goal kick which hit McBride who chested down the pass finding Blanco free on the right.
Jon Busch’s only real work of the 2nd half came in the 72nd minute when an offside Steven Lenhart rushed onto a free ball at the top of the box, only to find the work end of a Jon Busch clearance.
Shortly after in the 89th minute it was Carr again, free on the right after a quick clearance. Instead of carrying the ball down or finding the opening man, he found a Columbus defender 15 yards down the field who was only tacking back. His poor form clearly shows a lack of composure and fitness, not even matching the quality of USL-2 player.
After 90 minutes both teams left the pitch knowing they were lucky to earn a point while at the same feeling they should have taken all three.
Ethan C. Bontly covers Major Leagues Soccer for Puro Futbol. He has soccer experience at all levels in both the United States and England.
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