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Bill Manley/Chronicle
The Chicago Fire’s Lubos Kubic (left) battles for the ball with the Miami Fusion’s Jeff Cassar during the Fire’s 1-0 victory April 15 at Soldier Field.
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Hup Fire, Uber Alles!
Chicago Fire look to return to form they displayed in 1998
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By Amber Holst
Assistant Editor
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Eight guys were playing four-on-four short-goal soccer in the rain. The ground was wet, it was difficult to pass and it was difficult to shoot. As these guys slid around in the rain they seemed to be having the time of their lives. However, these eight were no ordinary men horsing around on a Saturday afternoon at a park—these were eight of the premier soccer players in the world.
Goalkeeper Zach Thornton, team captain Peter Nowak and the newly acquired Bulgarian superstar Hristo Stoichkov—all members of the Chicago Fire—practiced and laughed as if they were 10 years old.
This newfound team camaraderie is what the Chicago Fire hopes will bring them the team chemistry to get them back to the Major League Soccer Championship.
After winning the MLS Cup in their inaugural season in 1998, the Chicago Fire felt that they blew their opportunity to repeat last season.
“We had the talent to win the MLS Cup last year, but after winning our first year out we became arrogant which ultimately caused us to fall short,” said Fire defender C.J. Brown.
After losing to Dallas in the first round of the 1999 MLS Playoffs, the Fire organization felt that they needed to make some changes.
“During the 1998 season we were hungry to be successful; we just didn’t have the same attitude last season. A team needs to make moves, and the time came for us to move forward,” said Fire coach Bob Bradley.
This “moving forward” resulted in the loss of three key players, including their second leading assist man, and the acquisition of two. Defender Francis Okaroh was traded to the Miami Fusion, forward Roman Kosecki and midfielder Jerzy Podbrozny are no longer in the MLS. Defender Carlos Bocanegra and forward Hristo Stoichkov were brought in to help bolster the Fire’s attack.
Bocanegra was one of the top college defenders in the country during his tenure at UCLA, and gained notoriety as a member of the U.S. Under-23 National Team that took the bronze at the 1999 Pan American Games. Bocanegra made his season debut at the Fire’s April 15 home opener and was impressive.
Stoitchkov was allocated to the Fire in March, but made his international debut back in 1987. Stoichkov is a veteran player in the Bulgarian Premier League, but also played for organizations in Italy, Japan, Spain and Arabia. Stoitchkov was named to World Soccer’s 50 Greatest Players of the 20th Century. He has received numerous awards for his performance in World Cup U.S.A. ’94 and has won a domestic title every year since 1989. Stoichkov made his MLS debut with the Fire in the 2000 season opener at the Dallas Burn.
“We have a great balance of veteran players and young stars. We’re beginning to mold together the inconsistencies as a team and the result is a stronger organization,” Fire defender Bocanegra said.
However, the changes have not shown up in the win column so far this season. At 2-3, the Fire do not believe they are where they should be.
“It is important for us to keep passing the ball and maintain possession. Obviously that passing has to lead to something, which is beginning to happen. We have some dangerous attacking players that help us score goals,” said forward Ante Razov.
The April 15 home opener against the Miami Fusion was a promising sign. The Fire’s chemistry looked good despite a season full of distractions.
Goalkeeper Zach Thornton played in his first game of the 2000 season after suffering a knee injury. He was put to the test early in the game, as he had to move from one post to the other to parry away Fusion forward Jay Heaps’ header. That was the best scoring chance Miami had in the opening half.
“Thornton has been a key player for two seasons, the players have a lot of confidence in him. I’m glad to have him back on the field,” said Fire Coach Bob Bradley.
Forward Hristo Stoitchkov scored the lone goal of the game, assisted by forward Ante Razov, bringing their combined efforts to four assists and six goals this season.
The game also ended with the same amount of Fire players it began with, making it their first this season. In their first four games, the Fire had a player ejected with a red card.
“Every time we go out there we get better. We have to remember to keep our minds in the game the entire time,” said defender C.J. Brown.
“We all believe that in order to be successful you need to win a championship, and that is our goal for this season,” said Bradley. “To fall short would not be success.”
The Chicago Fire are scheduled to play the Tampa Bay Mutiny at Solider Field on Friday, April 28 at 8:30 p.m. |
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