Chivas USA ice-cold offense to be Fire-tested
CARSON, Calif. -- The Chicago's Fire's immediate priority is plugging up a leaky defense, and its clash Friday night against Chivas USA offers either brilliant opportunity or a real challenge.
The Fire (2-2-2) have conceded twice in each of its last two games and three of its last four, managing to win just once in the span, and that against winless Toronto FC. Could there be a better foe than Chivas (3-5-0) to turn things around against?
The Goats have scored a league-worst four goals, none of them at Home Depot Center, where they've dropped four 1-0 decisions. They're treating this one as must-win, and that means must-score.
"For any team, it's important to have success at home," Chivas captain Alejandro Moreno said. "We haven't been able to do that. How about we start with scoring a goal at home. Then after that we'll build our way into finding a way to win a game."
Chivas' approach -- it figures to attack with more vigor than it has -- presents an intriguing puzzle for a Fire side that needs to shut down opponents' attacks as they begin a heavy month, with seven games on the schedule, the next two at home against powerful Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City.
"In the past two games, we've given up two goals, and that's not going to win us any games," goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who has started the past three games, told the MLS website. "Definitely as a defensive unit, we've got to get better. ... Game-by-game, you want to say you build and build, but, honestly, it's coming together. Players are jelling, and it's coming together, but we've got to come out next week and really prove it and turn things around."
They'll try to do so without starting center back Jalil Anibaba, who was red-carded following a postgame brawl stemming from his late tackle on Leo Gonzalez at the end of Seattle's 2-1 victory at Toyota Park. Head coach Frank Klopas also was dismissed postgame -- for inappropriate comments directed to referee Michael Kennedy.
Rookie Austin Berry figures to make his Major League Soccer debut in Anibaba's place, partnering two-time German World Cup veteran Arne Friedrich, set to make his fourth start since joining Chicago.
Friedrich is stressing communication at the back.
"Sometimes we have to communicate more, and especially louder because we are new teammates and we don't know each other that well that we can play without any talking," Friedrich told the league's website. "This is what we have to improve, and I guess it's one of the reasons why we've given up so many goals."
