Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
The elements were not in the Chicago Fire's favor.
They had three suspended starters. They were playing on the road. They were playing down a goal
heading into stoppage time. And anything less than a win would have officially spelled the end to
Chicago's small, but lingering, playoff hopes.
Cory Gibbs -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Now that the playoffs are more or less out of the picture, the Chicago Fire are
simply looking to finish out their final two matches on a positive note.
But the Fire (7-9-16, 37 points) will be dramatically shorthanded when they face Eastern Conference
foe D.
Gonzalo Segares -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire have found a rare winning stretch, so the team would prefer
few to no changes toward its lineup now that it has a good thing going. Chicago posted back-to-back
league wins, followed by a Lamar Hunt U.
Gonzalo Segares (left) -- Associated PressBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
The Chicago Fire struggled mightily against Major League Soccer's expansion clubs this season. And
unless there is a miraculous stretch somewhere within this Fire roster, Sunday's effort against the
Vancouver Whitecaps likely spelled the end toward any playoff aspirations.
Sean Johnson -- Getty ImagesBy Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire offense has not regularly produced over the past month, but
the team's defense has turned into a saving grace for points.
Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas has been at the helm for five matches.
Fire celebrate lone goal -- Getty ImagesThe Chicago Fire defense has been in top form under interim
head coach Frank Klopas, posting three straight shutouts under his tenure. But one slightly delayed
push by the defensive back line allowed the New England Revolution a game-tying goal, as Chicago
played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Fire's Gonzalo Segares -- Getty ImagesBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire and Toronto FC have some
similarities in that both sides underwent some significant turnaround heading into the year, and
both are struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The Fire head to BMO Field this Saturday to take on the Reds, and both sides could use a lift.
Dominic Oduro -- Getty ImagesBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy was without its star power
Sunday, but the struggling Chicago Fire could not withstand the rest of L.A.'s depleted roster as
Chicago dropped its third straight, 2-1, in front of 18,203 at Toyota Park.
Former Fire forward Chad Barrett and Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez provided the Galaxy's scoring as
L.
Gonzalo Segares -- Getty ImagesBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire have lived up to their first
two MLS challenges this season, but now the team heads out to the league's buzzing Northwest
corridor for two matches over a six-day span.
The Fire face Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at the notoriously decibel-shaking Qwest Field, then
stay on the west coast to take on the expansion Portland Timbers next Thursday.
Tony Jouaux -- Chicago FireBRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- First-year Chicago Fire strength and conditioning
coach Tony Jouaux stands by the following assessment from Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho:
"Mourinho always says that a pianist doesn't run around the piano or do a push-up with his finger
tips to be the greatest pianist -- he plays a piano," Jouaux said.
Starting lineups, positional changes and formations sometimes need to be taken with a grain of salt
during the preseason. But the Chicago Fire certainly appear to be set on their ways with a new
3-5-2 formation heading into their 2011 campaign.
The three-man defensive back line is a dramatic variation for many of the players on Chicago's
roster.
