SoccerBlogs

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

Red Bulls manager Mike Petke foreshadowed it last week on his weekly media teleconference, and the news was eventually released on late Wednesday night that midfielder Tim Cahill had been selected for Australia's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

Baky's back. Ruff. (photo: jamati.com)

Philadelphia Union traded defender Bakary Soumare to Chicago Fire on Thursday...

Just when it seemed the Fire were on a one-way road to nowhere (at least until summer transfer window time), the front office made a needed move to bolster its ailing squad.

By IVES GALARCEP

If the Chicago Fire needed some convincing that they should make a trade for Bakary Soumare, a pair of shutout losses coming at the hands of a defense featuring Soumare did the trick.

The Fire are set to acquire Soumare from the Philadelphia Union, sources confirmed to SBI on Thursday.

Bakary Soumare's stay with the Philadelphia Union will come to an end shortly, as the center back has been traded to the Chicago Fire.

A source informed the Brotherly Game that Soumare's trade request, which he had made at the beginning of the 2013 season, was fulfilled by the Union. The Fire, who Soumare started against twice in the course of eight days recently, will add their former standout defender.

Blinded by the Light. (image: usdirect.com)

Each week, OTF aggregates the power rankings and visits with the MLS pundits to see what they say about our Chicago Smoke...

HIT THE MUSIC! Aggregate = 16.6/19 ( +0.4 from last week) ESPN FC(16)

"Pressure is mounting again for the Fire after extending its losing streak to three against the Union.

By DAN KARELL

After reeling off two wins in three matches last week, both against the Chicago Fire, the Philadelphia Union were given an additional boost this week with the news that Jeff Parke is fully fit.

Parke went down with a hamstring strain in the Union's 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders on May 4, forcing him out of the team's last three matches.

By IVES GALARCEP

The stadium was a different one, but beyond that the number of similarities between the Philadelphia Union's latest meeting with the Chicago Fire, and their meeting just a week earlier, was eery.

The final score was the same and the scorer of the game's only goal was the same.

Game: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire

Where: PPL Park, Chester, PA

When: 7:30 PM ET

Channel: The Comcast Network

Commentators: JP Dellacamera and Alejandro Moreno

Meet the Opposition: Hot Time In Old Town

Philadelphia Union starting XI: (4-4-2) Zac MacMath; Raymon Gaddis, Bakary Soumare, Amobi Okugo, Sheanon Williams; Brian Carroll, Danny Cruz, Kleberson, Michael Farfan; Jack McInerney, Sebastien Le Toux

Philadelphia Union bench: Chris Konopka, Chris Albright, Keon Daniel, Leo Fernandes, Roger Torres, Conor Casey, Antoine Hoppenot

Chicago Fire starting XI: (4-4-2) Sean Johnson; Wells Thompson, Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry, Gonzalo Segares; Dilly Duka, Logan Pause, Jeff Larentowicz, Joel Lindpere; Patrick Nyarko; Chris Rolfe

Chicago Fire bench: Paolo Tornaghi, Michael Videira, Corben Bone, Brendan King, Alex, Quincy Amerikwa, Sherjill MacDonald

Prediction: The last time these two squads met, the Union won but things could have gone better.

Anibaba: Yeah. We feel you, kid. (photo: Getty Images)

OTF Editor Scott Fenwick brings you his and the opposition's look at Chicago/Philadelphia redux...

What's new in Fire Land? Well, aside from the upcoming game at Philly, local fare this week was the ongoing Robbie Rogers saga, Bakary Soumare dealings, U.

Ssssseriously guysssss, what the hell isssss it with you people and sssssnakesssss?

This weekend, the Fire travels eastward and onward to cheesy steak city. OTF's Ricardo Ortiz has the scoop on that, as well as a good dose of theatrical trash talk. Prepare for a journey through space and time.

By TYLER DAY

The Fire returned to training this week to prepare for Saturday's game at the Philadelphia Union, the same club fell to, 1-0, last Saturday at Toyota Park. It was a game Chicago controlled throughout and had a number of chances to take the lead, but came away frustrated after a late Jack McInerney goal.

FIrst Half

In a press conference prior to Wednesday night's matchup, Philadelphia Union head coach harped on the fact that his team was not getting enough respect this season. With a solid performance against the MLS's best LA Galaxy, they had the chance to prove to the league that their strong early season start was no fluke.

Goin' Down South (image: usdirect.com)

Each week, OTF aggregates the power rankings and visits with the MLS pundits to see what they say about our toothless Chicago Fire...

HIT THE MUSIC! Aggregate = 17/19 ( 1.2 from last week) ESPN FC(16)

"The move of Patrick Nyarko to forward proved a master stroke against Philadelphia, as he tormented the Union's backline.

Bakary Soumare will remain in Chester, for the time being, despite his continued desire to move on from the team, after the Chicago Fire rejected a second overture by the Philadelphia Union, the Red Priest Podcast revealed today.

After Saturday's 1-0 win away at Toyota Park, the Union approached the Fire once again about a deal that would have sent Soumare to his former club and ended a months long trade demand by the center back.

By TYLER DAY

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. It wasn't pretty, but the Philadelphia Union didn't need it to be. On a day when the Chicago Fire had the majority of goal scoring opportunities, it was the Union, led by goalkeeper Zac MacMath and an opportunistic goal by league-leader Jack McInerney, that sunk the Fire, 1-0, at Toyota Park.

Despite getting thoroughly outplayed by the Chicago Fire for almost the entire 90 minutes, the Philadelphia Union still somehow managed to pick up a 1-0 win on the road against thanks to a brilliant performance from Zac MacMath and a moment of magic from Sebastien Le Toux and Jack McInerney.

John Hackworth once again went with the ineffective midfield combination of Michael Farfan, Danny Cruz, Brian Carroll, and Keon Daniel and as a result, the Chicago Fire controlled most of the first half, taking advantage of the weak Union midfield.

Game: Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union

Where: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

When: 1:30 PM ET

Channel: NBCSN

Commentators: Arlo White and Kyle Martino

Meet the Opposition: Hot Time In Old Town

Philadelphia Union starting XI: (4-4-2) Zac MacMath; Gabriel Farfan, Amobi Okugo, Bakary Soumare, Raymon Gaddis; Brian Carroll, Keon Daniel, Michael Farfan, Danny Cruz; Conor Casey, Jack McInerney

Philadelphia Union bench: Matt Kassel, Roger Torres, Chris Konopka, Sebastien Le Toux, Chris Albright, Kleberson, Antoine Hoppenot

Chicago Fire starting XI: (4-4-1-1) Sean Johnson; Gonzalo Segares, Austin Berry, Jalil Anibaba, Wells Thompson; Dan Paladini, Logan Pause, Joel Lindpere, Dilly Duka; Chris Rolfe; Patrick Nyarko

Chicago Fire bench: Corben Bone, Quincy Amerikwa, Paolo Tornaghi, Alex, Maicon Santos, Michael Videira, Yazid Atouba

Prediction: The Union continue to run out a formation and starting XI that has been show time and again to not work.

Week 11 continues apace after the biggest slate of midweek matches so far this season. It all starts with the Chicago Fire playing host to the Philadelphia Union at 1:30 on NBC Sports Network. The weekend will wrap up Sunday night at 8:00, when you should absolutely take advantage of this weekend's free trial of MLS Live to watch the two-time defending Eastern Conference playoff champion Houston Dynamo host the two-time defending Eastern Conference regular season champion Sporting Kansas City.

By THOMAS FLOYD

For all the success Sporting Kansas City have had over the past two years, the Houston Dynamo have been the one riddle the club can't solve.

After being ousted come playoff time by Houston two seasons in a row, Kansas City will travel to BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday and attempt to get a result against a Dynamo side that, in addition to riding a 36-game home unbeaten streak, just wrapped a 2-0 road trip.

Ze Jerry Berry gets work done on Danny Cruz. (photo: chicago-fire.com)

OTF Editor Scott Fenwick looks back on the week that was and gets you match prepped for Saturday's brunch match with the Philadelphia Union...

Last time the Union came to Toyota Park, the club from Philly embarrassed the Fire on its fifteenth anniversary.

Is this or is this not the work of Glenn Beck? Jimmy Nielsen?

This weekend, that team from the City of Brotherly Love travels east to visit Toyota Park. OTF's Ricardo Ortiz hates brotherhood and wants to instill that same hate in you...

So I suppose it's time to out the fifth column here at OTF.

Here's lookin' at you, Kid. (photo: goal.com)

Each and every week, OTF's writers and contributors chime in on the state of the Fire...

Should Frank Klopas be fired? OTF Editor Scott Fenwick

The case is quite simple actually. The history speaks for itself.

Second verse, same as the first. (photo: chicago-fire.com)

OTF'sMark Rogers throws a towel onthe Fire's wet and depressing 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union last Saturday evening...

After watching the Fire take on the Union again, I briefly wondered if I could simply repost Shane Nicholson's postmortem of the last time these two teams met.

This is Soccer. This is Chicago. (photo: chicago-fire.com)

Each and every week, OTF's writers and contributors chime in on the state of the Fire...

What are your thoughts on the Fire's 0-1 home loss last Saturday? What's your starting eleven and formation this weekend at Philly and why?

Patrick Nyarko and the Fire: So close, yet still miles away... (photo: chicago-fire.com)

OTF's Shane Nicholson would have rather covered a win. But alas, those are hard to come by in 2013...

Chances, chances, chances. How many can one team fluff?

Credit where it's due to the man MacMath between the sticks for the Union on Saturday, but my god.

Holden ... no more looking at the past!

And there it is. Jurgen Klinsmann going wide and expansive with his camp roster next week. The roster dominated by the return of golden boy Stu Holden and no place for Steve Cherundolo (or Carlos Bocanegra).

GOALKEEPERS (6) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.

Bakary Soumare will be back in Chicago but it won't be in the manner it seemed it would be 10 days ago. The former Fire defender is likely to make his second MLS appearance for Philadelphia versus the team that he made his only Union start against. His old club, the Chicago Fire. Soumare said the Union and Fire had engaged in talks for a trade last week but now it seems unlikely that a deal will be consummated any time soon.