November 12, 2009 by f4denz.

So I am going to start with some of the experts around the soccer world, you know the same ones that doubted RSL could make the playoffs, then when they did doubted RSL could beat Columbus in the first match and when they did they still doubted that RSL could find a way past the Crew in the second leg, ah, you have to love the experts, so wrong, so often.

So what do the experts say?
Ives of Soccer by Ives fame picks the Fire 2-1

Andrew Hush of ESPN picks the Fire 2-1

The crew from Goal.com make their picks on who will win the Cup and none of them pick RSL to make it past Chicago

MLSnet.com used their “The Edge” format to pick Chicago

If you want to voice your opinion here are a couple polls:
Soccer Insider has you picking who will be in the Cup Final

Soccer by Ives lets you pick the winner of the RSL vs. Chicago match

So I am sure more of the experts will be offering opinions over the next few days and I will post the updates.

A little more Chicago History

So everyone knows the story of the Fire joining the league in 1998 and winning the Cup in their first year (the same dream that was dashed for the Seattle Fans by Houston) but to get there it took the PK shootout win over the Galaxy, in 1999 they tried to defend their crown but went out in the first round (then 3 games) to Dallas. In 2000 the Fire advanced back to the Cup final but went down 1-0 to Kansas City, in 2001 they failed to get a home win in their 3 match series with LA and they were out of the playoffs. 2002 saw Chicago again going out of the playoffs to New England in a 3 match series, but in 2003 the Fire once again made the Cup match but this time they dropped the final match 4-2 to San Jose, the match was played in Chicago. In 2004 the Fire failed to qualify for the playoffs, the first time in their franchise history, ending an impressive run.

In 2005 the league changed with the addition of RSL and Chivas, but the Fire regained their playoff form and made it to the Eastern Conference final, a match they lost 1-0 against New England in Foxboro. The next year was a similar experience as the Fire again went out against the Rev’s this time on PK’s in the final leg of the first round and again when playing on New England’s home turf. 2007 the story reverted back to the 2005 version as the Fire once again went down 0-1 on the turf in New England in the Eastern Conference Final, and 2008 saw the Fire eliminate their nemesis New England in the first round only to then fall to the Columbus Crew in the Conference Final.

So what does this history have to do with the matchup on Saturday? It simply means it is very easy for a team to get up emotionally and for the fans to be frenzied when you’re facing a bitter rival, just look at RSL’s final match of the regular season against Colorado. To maintain that emotion is a tough thing, and when you are facing a foe that is on a very hot streak and the pressure to win now before you superstar leaves the team and the contracts on most of your roster expires that pressure has to be huge. For RSL nobody, expected them to make the playoffs, very few thought they could make it past Columbus, and a similar number are expecting them to beat the Fire, there is no pressure and for this team they play very well when they have a chip on their shoulder and people doubt them.

If you are making the trip to Chicago

Then you might want to contact Julie Harper at Juliana64@gmail.com she is planning a prematch get together.

OFF MY SOAPBOX
win one and earn a trip to Seattle, win two and earn a trip to the history books

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November 12, 2009 by f4denz.

First let me say my thanks to the men and women who have in the past and continue to this day to sacrifice in order to protect the freedoms that we so amply enjoy, some have paid the ultimate price and given their lives to protect the ideals of freedom but all who serve put others ahead of their own concerns and to get biblical for a second. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 Thank you.

While there is no playoff history between these two teams they have faced off a total of 10 times since RSL has joined the league and there is no doubt that Chicago holds an edge in the series 5-1-4 with the Fire scoring 14 goals and RSL just 7, but before you get to excited Fire fans let’s look a little closer at the history.

In 2005 it was Chicago getting 6 of their all time 14 goals against RSL as they won 3-0 at Rice Eccles Stadium and 3-1 at Soldier Field, the lone RSL goal was scored by Jason Kreis. Then in 2006 RSL started to show some signs of life including a 3-1 win at home and dropping the road leg 2-1 after a long delay due to lightning, so after two years the Fire had scored 9 of their 14 goals against RSL and RSL had scored 5 of their 7 goals against Chicago and from there the last 3 years the matches have become much tighter.

In 2007 RSL went to Toyota Park in May and they came home with a hard earned point after a 0-0 draw, as neither team could find a way to get a ball into the back of the net. When Chicago came to town it was a historic match but not in a the way RSL would have hoped, after some questionable calls It was just before the first half ended that Blanco scored his first goal in a MLS match to give the Fire a 1-0 lead. The second half saw RSL miss several chances and then as the match hit the 80^th minute Chicago was able to get a goal off a corner kick as Blanco added an assist to go with his goal as the Fire won the match 2-0. So at the end of 2007 the Fire has scored 11 of their 14 goals against RSL and RSL couldn’t add to their 5 goal total against the Fire.

In 2008 the Fire were the first team on the RSL schedule and for 70 minutes it was a scoreless battle then a own goal by Soumare gave RSL a 1-0 lead and then something that happened a lot to the old RSL, the clock hit 90 and they lost a lead and again it was Blanco who hit an incredible shot from the top of the area. The match was dominated by RSL who took twice as many shots 17 to 8, had four times as many on goal 8 to 2 but in the end it was a great shot by Blanco that was the highlight of the match. The return leg was in the middle of July and this match was much more evenly played by both sides, the Fire had a 12 to 11 edge on shots and both teams put two shots on goal but when the whistle blew it was a 0-0 draw. Do you notice a trend starting to form over the last couple of years?

So now this year we had again two matchups between the teams and first leg was in Chicago and the match was fairly evenly played with RSL getting a few more shots off 16 to 13 and both teams had 5 shots on goal but in the end it was a defensive lapse that allowed Nyarko to find space and head home the only goal of the match. But it wasn’t the big names that made the difference it was Ward who got the assist but Pause and Pappa both looked dangerous. Considering the reputations of both teams it was impressive that there were only 9 total fouls in the match and a single yellow card was given to Segares.

When the Fire came for their first match ever at Rio Tinto Stadium it was going to be a match were controversy would steal the day as in the 44^th minute a ball was played into the area where Chris Rolfe appears to have used his arm to bring the ball down and poke it past Nick Rimando to give Chicago the 1-0 lead as the half came to an end. In the second half RSL would dominate the match and in the 72^nd minute Andy Williams recovered a ball at midfield and played to Jamison Olave who was trailing the play after a set piece. Then in another very controversial moment as a clear foul in the box when Conde took down Morales in the 75^th minute but it wasn’t called as Alex Prus had another match in which he missed several calls. Then as the clock was almost at 90 the Fire got a great chance but Nick Rimando was up to the task and made the save, then in stoppage time Yura Movsisyan had a great shot bounce off the post (the second RSL shot of the night to do that), eventually RSL would get a corner kick and Olave would play a rocket ball off his head but a super save by Busch saved the match for Chicago. For the Fire it was another match without Blanco but despite being outplayed they came away with a point from a hard fought match.

So what can history teach us? Well in the last 3 years the matchup between the Fire and RSL has become much more competitive with Chicago only able to secure a single win over Real when playing in Chicago. If you look at what team might has been playing better over the last month of action you will see that it is RSL that has the momentum and are 4-1-0 since the start of October with 9 goals for and just 3 against. Chicago on the other hand is 2-2-1 in their last 5 matches and have 4 goals scored and 4 goals against, but if you look at their last 5 home matches they are 2-1-2. Chicago has struggled at home this year and their 5-4-6 home record during the regular season was simply depressing as only KC had fewer home wins in 2009. One other historic fact that sticks out to me is that there are only 3 players on either roster that have scored against the other side: Blanco, Nyarko, and Rolfe for Chicago, while Williams, Olave, and Mathis have found the back of the net against Chicago. Will it be one of these names or someone new to step up on Saturday? I have two names for you, Findley and Movsisyan.

Well tomorrow I will take a look at the Galaxy vs. Dynamo match up and let you know who I think will represent the Western Conference in the MLS Cup.

OFF MY SOAPBOX
win one and get a trip to Seattle, win two and get a trip into the record books

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