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Game Preview :: Chicago at New England, 5/3/08 |
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Written by Benjamin Kumming
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Friday, 02 May 2008 |
The rivalry Fire fans hold most dear continues this Saturday when Chicago heads to Gillette Stadium to face New England for more than just bragging rights. Both teams stand at 10 points, second and third behind League leaders Columbus (12pts), Chicago ahead on goal difference. This Saturday’s match has the potential to send the winning side to the top of the East, and the League.
THE FIRE XI
The official expected line-up shows Thorrington retaining his starting spot on the right wing, and deservedly so after two impressive displays in previous games, especially last weekend’s two-goal performance against Colorado. However, if Rolfe is match fit again as reports indicate, it is hard to imagine Hamlett keeping his most versatile and dynamic attacker on the bench. Instead, one could expect to see Barrett sat in favor of Rolfe as a forward while Thorrington hopefully continues his solid run in the midfield.
Although Mapp’s form continues to draw criticism, there’s no reason to expect him to miss this match, with Blanco in the number 10 slot and Logan Pause playing a defensive midfield role rounding out the middle third. New signing Lider Marmol may give Pause a run for his starting position in the future, but it will be several weeks before the Paraguayan’s visa is cleared. There’s also no reason to expect change to the now standard starting line up for the best defense in MLS. With the league’s fewest Goals Allowed (3, tied with New York but across more games), even prodigal son Wilman Conde cannot get a start without an injury to one of the regulars: Brandon Prideaux, Bakary Soumare, Diego Gutierrez and Gonzalo Segares. John Busch, boasting the best Goals Against Average in the league at .60, will start in goal barring injury as well.
THE BAD GUYS
New England managed to squeak a 1 – 0 win over FC Dallas last weekend to put the skids on their two week winless run. However, the side is still suffering injuries to key starters. Taylor Twellman, the Revolution’s all-time high scorer against Chicago, is still listed as Doubtful. Further, team goal leader Sainey Nyassi is listed as Questionable, along with Michael Parkhurst and Chris Albright. While any of the three may start, there’s no doubt New England will field a less-than-ideal side.
INJURY REPORT
Chicago’s injury list is pleasantly short, with both Prideaux and Rolfe having overcome their recent set backs. Only official captain, CJ Brown (Out) and midfielder Brian Plotkin (Questionable) remain sidelined. New England, however, could field two-thirds of a squad with players on the crinkly paper, including Twellman, Nyassi, Parkhurst, Albright, Matt Britner, Jeff Larentowicz, and Steve Ralston. As most of those are listed as Questionable, however, any of them could see time on Saturday and several are projected to start.
PREDICTION
This is a big game, make no mistake. Should Columbus lose their match to a solid Kansas City side this weekend, the winner of the New England – Chicago match up would rise to first in both the Eastern Conference and the League. Aside from injuries, there are other dark clouds over Foxboro for New England. The Fire have won the three-game season series between the two clubs for the past two years running and, while behind in total wins and losses, show a statistical advantage in recent history. Another factor could be exhaustion as this game will be New England’s seventh game in six weeks due to schedule adjustments for the SuperLiga.
More importantly, however, it would be foolish to bet against a weakened New England attack gaining much ground against this so-far outstanding Chicago defense. The real questions lie at the other end of the field where the Fire have only managed to score two of its 8 goals from regular run of play so far this season.
Result: CHI 1 – 0 NE Rolfe, 65’
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