Playoff spot on the line for LA, Chicago
Fire control destiny, while Galaxy await the results of Saturday's matches
CHICAGO FIRE v LOS ANGELES GALAXY
TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Ill.
2 p.m. CT (TeleFutura; My50 [Chi.]; FSN-W)
Oct. 21, 2007 (WEEK 29) / MLS Game #195
The entire 2007 season will come down to one game for both the Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy. The Fire control more of their destiny come Sunday - even with a loss to the Galaxy at Toyota Park, they could back into the postseason if results go the right way in the FC Dallas-Kansas City Wizards and Colorado Rapids-Real Salt Lake matches. For the Galaxy, it is much simpler, after their Thursday draw with New York: While they must win on Sunday, even if they do, they will know at kickoff if the results in those two games will have left them with a chance to pull into the top eight and the 12th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
REFEREE: Alex Prus. SAR (bench): Craig Lowry; JAR (opposite): Peter Manikowski; 4th: Michael Kennedy
MLS Career: 121 games; FC/gm: 30.2; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 27; pens: 39
Games involving Fire: P20 W8 L8 T4; FC/gm: 29.8; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 4; pens: 7
Games involving Galaxy: P27 W9 L11 T7; FC/gm: 29.8; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 4; pens: 9
INJURY REPORT: CHICAGO FIRE - OUT: DF Jeff Curtin (R groin strain); DF Osei Telesford (L groin strain); DOUBTFUL: MF Justin Mapp (R ankle sprain); QUESTIONABLE: DF Ivan Guerrero (L ankle sprain) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - DOUBTFUL: DF Ty Harden (L hip); QUESTIONABLE: DF Chris Albright (R hamstring); MF David Beckham (R knee); DF Quavas Kirk (L foot); PROBABLE: FW Alan Gordon (L groin); DF Abel Xavier (L knee)
SUSPENDED: LA: Kyle Martino (five cautions; through Oct. 21)
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHI: Calen Carr ... LA: Ty Harden
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (27 meetings): Fire 11 wins, 33 goals ... Galaxy 13 wins, 33 goals ... Draws 3
AT CHICAGO: (13 meetings): Fire 7 wins, 18 goals ... Galaxy 6 wins, 15 goals ... Draws 0
• This is the second of two league meetings between the clubs this season, the lone matchup in Bridgeview in the 2007 MLS regular season finale.
• A year ago, the Fire won the season series, claiming a 2-1 victory at Toyota Park while the teams played to a 1-1 draw at The Home Depot Center.
• The Galaxy's win in the first meeting this year was their first against the Fire in league play in six meetings. The previous Los Angeles win in the series came June 27, 2004 at Soldier Field.
• Last year, the teams also met in the final of the U.S. Open Cup, and the Fire claimed the Dewar Trophy for the fourth time with a 3-1 victory on Sept. 27 at Toyota Park (Jaqua 10, Herron 16, Thiago 88 - Gordon 51). It was the fourth time the teams have met in Open Cup play; the three previous times were all in the semifinals, and on each occasion, the winner of that meeting went on to capture the nation's oldest tournament (Chicago in 2000 and 2003; Los Angeles in 2001).
• Coaches record: Juan Carlos Osorio v LA: first game ... Frank Yallop vs. CHI: P9 W2 L3 D4
2007 (MLS)
LAST MEETING
7/4: LA 2, CHI 0 (Donovan 16 pen, 87 pen)
• The Galaxy got a pair of penalty kicks for a 2-0 victory against the Chicago Fire on July 4 at The Home Depot Center. Twice Kyle Martino was tripped in the area, and twice Landon Donovan converted from the spot, and that was all the Galaxy needed for the victory, In the 16th minute, Martino was tripped up by Chris Armas after skipping past C.J. Brown in the area, and Donovan knocked home the spot kick.
• Then in the 87th minute Martino was held up by Ivan Guerrero, and again Donovan beat Fire 'keeper Jon Busch from the spot. It was the fifth consecutive game where Donovan had scored a penalty kick - the previous four coming while playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the U.S. national team.
• The Fire managed just two shots on the night, and neither of those was on target. Both came from defender C.J. Brown on headers from set pieces, the first not coming until the 70th minute.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Abel Xavier, Ty Harden, Ante Jazic - Cobi Jones (Carlos Pavon 56), Kelly Gray, Peter Vagenas, Kyle Martino (Quavas Kirk 90) - Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle (Gavin Glinton 73). Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon, Troy Roberts, Josh Tudela
• Here's Hamlett's team (4-4-2): Jon Busch - Dasan Robinson (Bruno Menezes 46), C.J. Brown, Diego Gutierrez, Gonzalo Segares - Calen Carr (Thiago 70), Chris Armas, Logan Pause, Ivan Guerrero - Chad Barrett (Willian Oliveira 80), Floyd Franks. Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Curtin, Jim Curtin, Matt Pickens, Daniel Woolard
CHICAGO FIRE
The Chicago Fire head into the final weekend of the season with a very simple formula: A victory against the LA Galaxy, and they are in the MLS Cup Playoffs. They can still qualify with a draw - or even a loss - but need the results to have gone the right way in Frisco and Commerce City on Saturday night. The Fire have 37 points, entering the final weekend tied for seventh place in the MLS overall standings, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak after a scoreless draw with D.C. United last Saturday.
LAST MATCH
• D.C. United came in riding a 12-game unbeaten streak and had clinched the Eastern Conference regular season title the weekend before -- meaning that the road to the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy will most certainly go through the nation's capital. The Fire were unbeaten in their last six games as they continued to cling to eighth place overall and the last spot in the playoffs.
• D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins was called upon to make a club season-high nine saves, eight during the first half when the Fire held the majority of the play.
• But the best save of the night fell to Fire 'keeper Matt Pickens, who acrobatically tipped a fierce Christian Gomez blast over the bar midway through the half. The woodwork also saved the Fire in the first half when Guy-Roland Kpene lashed a snapshot that smacked the inside of the left post and sailed out the other side.
• Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio made one change to the team that defeated the New England Revolution 2-1 on Saturday evening at Toyota Park. Logan Pause came back into the team, in place of Diego Gutierrez as Osorio again changed up his tactics.
• Here's Osorio's team (4-3-1-2): Matt Pickens - Logan Pause, Dasan Robinson, C.J. Brown, Gonzalo Segares - Chris Rolfe (John Thorrington 88), Chris Armas, Wilman Conde (Bakary Soumare 78) - Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Chad Barrett (Calen Carr 81), Paulo Wanchope. Substitutes Not Used: Jon Busch, Floyd Franks, Diego Gutierrez, Bruno Menezes
• "We knew we were playing against the best team in the league. I mean if you look at the table it is no coincidence that D.C. United has the amount of points they do and over 50 goals scored. They have two or three quality forwards, but we knew we had to take care of our own business," Osorio said. "We really thought that we could have won tonight, and I think we proved that. We created many chances in the first half, and we came out and did the same in the second. We knew we were playing a very disciplined team. I believe we had enough to win."
TEAM NEWS
• It was the Fire's first attacking shutout since a Sept. 1 1-0 loss to New York - also the club's last loss. However, the Fire have managed only five draws in their seven-game unbeaten run.
• "I told the strikers Paulo [Wanchope] and Chad [Barrett] after the game that I would rather have them get the chances and be in the right positions than not get any chances at all. It goes without saying that we keep having finishing sessions at practice, and hopefully we will be more clinical next time."
• Once again, Osorio used Chris Rolfe in a midfield role as he changed to more of a diamond shape, with Rolfe and usual defender Wilman Conde playing wide and Cuauhtemoc Blanco in a very advanced role.
• "He has great vision and at times we thought we were becoming too Cuauhtemoc (Blanco) dependent. Moving him in as a second number 10, Cuauhtemoc has more freedom. He can see the pass and execute it," said Osorio about the 24-year-old Rolfe.
• Said Rolfe: "It gives me the ability to get off the back line so I'm not playing with guys on my back. I can collect the ball and face the goal and I still have, typically have two guys in front of me in Chad and Paulo so it's easier for me to play off of them and just kind of run at guys which is one of my strengths.
• After the Galaxy's draw on Thursday, it set up an all-important clash in the regular season finale for the league. No matter what, the final playoff spot will come down to the game, as no combination of results from the Colorado-Real Salt Lake and Kansas City-FC Dallas games can make the Toyota Park matchup meaningless.
• "I think it is very good for the league. Three months ago I think people had written us off, and we proved a lot of people wrong," Osorio said. "We are playing well - seven unbeaten games. It would be good for the league in general and obviously for us." Said Chad Barrett: "We hope that doesn't happen but that would create a lot of interest in the league. We are just trying to make the playoffs. We want to make the playoffs. We don't know if [David] Beckham will be there but if he is that's great."
• Osorio said that neither Justin Mapp nor Ivan Guerrero will be healthy for the season finale. Both are still recovering from ankle injuries.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy now need some help if they are going to see their remarkable run reach the conclusion of the MLS Cup Playoffs, after their 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls on MLS Primetime Thursday at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy now have 34 points, still three points out of the final playoff spot, and will need some help even with a victory against the Fire on Sunday.
LAST MATCH
• For once, it wasn't a must-win for the Galaxy, though they could not afford to lose, riding a five-game winning streak and six games unbeaten. The Red Bulls already had their dance card set, with an Eastern Conference Semifinal Series ahead against the New England Revolution.
• The Red Bulls pushed from the outset, but it was the Galaxy who opened the scoring after 15 minutes. A half-cleared corner was played out to Landon Donovan on the left flank, and sent in a bending cross over the goalmouth to the far post, where Troy Roberts headed home.
• But it took less than a minute for the Red Bulls to equalize. Dave van den Bergh was freed down the left flank and whipped in a fine cross that Jozy Altidore met with a glancing header inside the back post for his ninth goal of the season.
• Juan Pablo Angel had a number of quality chances, but couldn't find his way to a 20th goal on the campaign, ending his first MLS season with 19. David Beckham made a reappearance in the Galaxy team, playing the final quarter of the match.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made no changes to the team that defeated Toronto FC 2-1 at The Home Depot Center the previous Saturday.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-1-1): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ante Jazic, Troy Roberts, Mike Randolph - Cobi Jones, Josh Tudela, Peter Vagenas (David Beckham 68), Kyle Martino (Gavin Glinton 57) - Landon Donovan - Carlos Pavon (Edson Buddle 64). Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon, Kevin Harmse, Abel Xavier
• "First and foremost, we are still in it and that's a good thing. Maybe we didn't play particularly well tonight, but I thought our guys dug in. They are a good side, a side that attacks well. We did well to limit their chances," Yallop said. "On another night, we might have scored but it will now come to our last game, hopefully, as long as some results go our way. We will wait till Saturday night."
TEAM NEWS
• One half of the equation is simple for the Galaxy - they must defeat the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon. However, even before that happens, they have to hope that FC Dallas have defeated the Kansas City Wizards at Pizza Hut Park, and that Real Salt Lake have ground out at least a draw in the Rocky Mountain Cup finale at the Colorado Rapids.
• "We just talked about it and everyone is great. We have to wait for the result and do what we can do on Sunday. A win tonight would have been a lot better, but it still isn't a given - we have to go to Chicago and win. That's a tough game," Yallop said. "We are hoping the results on Saturday will go for us, and we have a chance."
• After a 3-1 home loss to Houston Dynamo on Sept. 16, the Galaxy had just 17 points from 22 matches, with just four victories on the campaign. Since that match, they've won five games and drawn two to get themselves into the final day with a hope and a prayer.
• "Eight weeks ago, if we said it would go till the last game - everyone would have thought we were crazy," Yallop said. "We've done well to get to this position and hopefully get through it."
• After proving himself fit on the training ground throughout the week, David Beckham came on for the final 22 minutes - and showed no hesitation in getting stuck in.
• "It lifts everybody to know that he is available. It's never easy coming into a game like that for 20 minutes or so. He's a little bit rusty in his play, but he wasn't hindered by the injury. He's match fitness will be the biggest problem. He was anxious to get on. I could tell when he was warming up," Yallop said. "We wanted to stick the plan. It was a good chance to try him in the game. We didn't get any free kicks around the box, which we were trying to get. We really didn't any wide free kicks, where he could serve that ball in."
• After allowing two goals to Real Salt Lake to start the current unbeaten run, the Galaxy have allowed just five goals over their last six games and haven't allowed more than one goal in any of those.
• "It feels good as a defender, especially as a team, to keep forwards from scoring. It's our job. You take pride in keeping guys like Angel without a goal. Unfortunately, we let one in with Jozy (Altidore), but it's soccer. Things happened, but we bounced back pretty well," said Troy Roberts, scorer of the Galaxy goal.
• It could have been the last home game ever for Cobi Jones. One of just seven players remaining who have played in each of Major League Soccer's 12 seasons, Jones said he will be retiring following the season. He is the only player in league history to have spent that entire time with just one club.
• "It is surreal. You don't think about it too much. I'm sure it will probably hit me more once the season is over. Like every year, once the season is over you look at it and go that's it - we've done a whole year. This time it will be like that's it forever," Jones said. "I won't be playing in this stadium again. It's the last time I'll be wearing the Galaxy jersey. It's difficult to think about."
• Said Yallop: "Cobi means a lot to this city, club and league. I think that it was fitting that he played his 90 minutes and played well tonight. He's been great for us; he's been great for me. I didn't really like him, I didn't really know him when I played against him or coached against him. But, when you get to know Cobi - he's a great guy and a great teammate. I think he deserves everything he gets. He's one of the best American players to ever play the game."
