Game #21:FIRE @ San Jose 7/28/12 9:30pm (Nonstop 5.2)

It's just the way it happened. This is how we usually play on the road now, and it's been getting us decent results lately. I would have gladly taken the point 2 hours ago, but to have the player that ties it up in the 98th minute be Lenhart . . . ugh. He's not a dirty player, but he's riculously reckless and more than a bit clumsy. He gets results through size and effort, but the sooner I don't have to watch him play anymore, the better.

The way it happened stinks but 1 point on the road is a decent consolation prize as long as we win at home.

Lenhart is just one of those scrappy players. I hate him on opposing teams but would love to see him on the Fire.

I can't believe we gave up a goal right in the end.How the hell does big bird get all that space?
We all knew it was coming but last minute goal is just hard to take .
Typical Fire

3 DM's at the end of the game,against 10 men, and we can't hold the ball and ride out the clock??
And do you think that our players could actually clear a ball past midfield and not directly to them?

Someone tell FK that DP doesn't stand for dog pooh! Are u kidding me?

Eight (8) minutes of extra time?

You are a moran.

Unfortunately despite putting themselves in a great position to steal 3pts on the road, you don't deserve to win if you spend the last 10 minutes of the match clearing balls directly to the feet of the opposition in your defensive half of the field. The defense did a subpar job of pushing balls up and away and out of danger to force SJ to reset deep in their own half. And by defense I mean the collective team defense not just the back line. Its up to everyone to defend.

I also thought the new guy from Belgium made a critical mistake on the touch line in stoppage time. He was all alone with no teammate within 20yds and he tried to get past two SJ defenders rather than just knock the ball out on their shinguard and give Chicago a throw-in and burn another 20-30 seconds off the clock. There was really very little chance he was going to beat both players to the corner flag. And he didnt need to. By just winning the throw-in, the throw-in would have put the ball at the flag anyway.

You're a moran.

1. Sean Johnson was infukincredible.

2. For those that say "see, that's why we need 2 CDMs, to cover for are outside backs"...I would concede the need for 2 CDMs only if the outside backs can get up and down the wings for 90+ minutes and contribute offensively...and that's not us.

3. McDonald = too early to tell...but I like what I've seen so far...he will need zero time adjusting to the physical play, but how much playing time will he get with a 1 forward lineup...zero time as well.

4. That was way too much fn' added time...

He did get an assist.

..and who asked you for your opinion?

1.I could be wrong, but I dont think Gargan got back on the pitch after he hobbled off.
2.MLS needs to review Wondo's and Gordons shenanigans after the red and yellow they received.Gordon time waisted heading to the lockerroom and was still yelling and screaming at the refs and linesmen as he sauntered off the field.And Wondo continued to berate the linesmen well after his card.
3. MacDonald, while he didnt show anything spectacular on the ball the Fire finally have a big physical presence up top.San Jose's back 4 had to alter their gameplan after he walked onto the field.If they can get him and Oduro on at the same time I think the Fire will really give league defenders fits.
4. Rolfe Right now he is the best field player on this team.
5. Nyarko I think his shooting/passing foot has regressed.there were numerous times in the game where it looked like a 10 year old kicked the ball.absolutley awful, he litterally has no strength in his body at times.
6.Sean Johnson... the man
7.Oduro ,is not good enough to be a lone forward.But I do think he still could light it back up.With him and MacDonald up top/ as stated above I think opposing defenders will have their hands full.
8.we need real fullbacks.Gargan was getting torched all night.and Anibaba seemed absent at times.
9.Arne and Berry worked their asses off
10.Alex, hustles alot but seems to just wander at times and looks to get confused and also confuses his team mates.likely will be relegated down to bench with the addition of Flaco.Rolfes backup at Cam or 3rd choice at LM.

While a point on the road is good, esp when it is against the team at the top of the table, the goal at the death of stoppage was caused by our 3 DM's not covering one of the more dangerous players in MLS. I mean big-bird was uncovered and unchallenged as he made his shot. The initial 5 extra minutes felt right with the injury stoppages, then the extra 3 was about the time needed to cleanup after the ejection. This one hurt, but it hurt in a good way...

And yes, I guess, Ben, I am a moran....

He kept you in the game no question. He blocked 4 certain goals that a lesser keeper would have allowed.

Nah, but you are wrong on this one. 8 minutes was impossible.

It wasn't us that wasted all the time in stoppage, extending it to 8 minutes to cover for Gordon's antics was ridiculous.

Re-watching clown-Jesus score his goal, all I see is the half hearted attempt by Logan to block. If there was a time in the whole match for the hockey-style "throw your body at it", that was it. Yeah, it was the 300th minute, but that's what you need to do if you want to steal points on the road from one of the best teams in the league.

So, seriously how much added time was there, and why? I'm watching the highlights, and SJ scores in the 7+ 90?

Yes, in a one goal game without a weather delay...

But, it was wig night...so the ref had to wait till the reason for wig night scored...then he blew the whistle...otherwise, the fans might have flipped their wigs...

I apologize to everyone who just read what I wrote.

True and true.

Mr. Moran, that's who I am.

Peter Hirdt @ PeterHirdt
Lenhart's goal last night marked 1st time Chicago dropped points on a goal after the 75 minute in their last 48 gms, a league record#CF97

http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/07/28/goal-rolfe-opens-scoring-vs-sj

rolfe backpass to pause, pause forward pass to nyarko, nyarko forward pass to rolfe, rolfe goal

See? Both the backpass and Logan Pause work! And if it works, don't change it.

Good reads..

MLS Referee Chris Penso screwed up: let's all admit it so we can improve the league.

Klopas vs Yallop in San Jose: A Tale of Two Games

Good points .... good read

That's nice. It may even be true. It still doesn't excuse the team for crap defending on the goal. It's not like this is the first time our defense has failed to close down an attacker before he can get a shot off.

If you're stupid enough to put your fate in the hands of USSF's incompetent refs, you deserve the big rubber dick you'll promptly get up your sinkhole.