He and Gaiton and Frankowski should give defenses absolute fits when all are healthy and on the field together. Katai is most skilled offensive player the Fire have had in years.
Can anyone play for the Colorado Rapids? Need a new job. I have a bad shoulder and knees and am a little overweight but I bet I could score a goal or two against the wizards
That was great. Felt like the Fire were exorcising some demons. Also, how did it get sooooo nice here. Anyone who was wishy washy on coming to the game should feel bad. @sportscrazed2
That was just what the team needed. Just a couple games in and Gaitan showed superb quality. He lofted an inch perfect cross for Niko's goal and showed a nifty touch to send the ball across the goal mouth on Djorde'd goal. He hit good passes and made good decisions all game. He looks worth every penny he cost to obtain. He certainly should be MOTM with his assists.. It's hard to find a player to criticize. There were lots of good things one could point out. One thing, in particular. was the way the Fire dug the ball out from Rapids players without fouling. CJ Sapong must be pinching himself in disbelief at the luck he had being sent to the Fire. With lots of weapons and players to create chances, he rates to score his share of goals in a comeback season. His threat as a scorer is also mutually beneficial to Niko and the other potential Fire scorers. Djorde had a good game with some really nice defensive work at times. It was great to see him get his first goal this season on a play he started. It was also nice for Katai get his first goal also. He hit the bar on an earlier attempt and hit one way over goal before he scored. I wondered if the high shot was due to his being anxious about scoring. It looked like he could have taken a little more time and ensured it was on goal. Now that he's off the schneid, maybe he'll get on a hot streak. Just one other comment. How about giving Jeremiah Gutjahr some love? The youngster was in only his 4th MLS game and yet you virtually didn't heard any mention of his name throughout the game. He may not have done anything notable, but then again just avoiding any major blunders as a rookie speaks volume. Now, let's see how the road trip goes.
I was planning to go to the game, but my back acted up so it was a no go. Old age sometimes is a bummer.
If only we could play Colorado every game. In Gaitan we have that guy who can make that last great pass.
Seeing him "live" for the first time, I was really impressed with his movement, foot work and passing.
13 goals scored at The Geek today. Both Niko and Nico are finally firing. This is the offense as it should be. We should be able to outscore opponents by a vast margin and with the re-addition of Frankowski and Raheem, we look like a team that can actually do something. It's all up to Pauno's tactics. Also, Red Stars are the best. I love soccer. I love Yuki. Best anime hero of all time with the flying kick to equalize it in the 90th minute.
Sitting by the river with a margarita. Waiting for my Chile rellenos. Agreed about the pretty fine day @goldclover
Damm it was cold in the upper deck. That said, a very triamphant day! Stayed for the entire Red Stars game as well. Totally enjoyed both matches. I certainly got my money's worth. Well done!
Rewatching the game. Oh, Dan Kelly, shut the hell up. His first statement: "No room for sentimentality. The Chicago Fire face Tim Howard and the Colorado Rapids." WTF? What sentimentality? Tim Howard has no connection to Chicago. Colorado has not connection to Chicago. Idiocy. If he means that Tim Howard was the USMNT goalkeeper, so what? That has absolutely nothing to do with the Fire or Chicago. I could see mentioning "respect" but not sentimentality. As for the game: A ridiculous cross by Gaitan and Nikolic's goal was pure professionalism. I missed Gaitan's pass when I watched it live. It was spectacular. That Katai pass to Sapong for the second goal was excellent. Katai could have shot towards the far corner, but his decision to cross was better. Also, he could have picked out Nikolic, who held up his run to draw a defender with him, leaving Sapong open. Really good play. Gaitan with a bit of juggling to Mihailovic. Gaitan should have shot, but he was a bit out of position and it was way more elegant. Katai's goal was tremendous. A thirty yard run and perfect placement. At the bar after the game, my two Polish friends just kept asking about who was No. 10 and how great he played.
I feel like it was a shot, but he wasn't able to get his foot on it properly. Either way, great work to control it enough to get it into the right spot.
You can see him glance to Djordje, that was no misplay. He even pointed to himself after the play to essentially say " did you just see what I ********ing did?!?' The second assist should be in global highlight reels , if MLS had assist of the year THAT would be it. Nico is a playmaking stud , hold on and enjoy this ride were about go on. It's going to be an up and down ride .In the end the Fire may not win anything or even make the playoffs... But damn they are going to give us a show . Savour it, just like anyone who got watch Gale Sayers run for the bears..
It was Colorado.. But Bastian had a phenomenal game at CB. He deserves an honorable mention as MOTM and hopefully gets named team if the week
Also, Kappelhoff. He has been great at right back. According to Klopas, he was regularly a right back in Holland. It suits him.
It was a great Saturday for me. I slept in, starting refinishing a door in my garage and finished one side about the time I was ready for lunch. Made a sandwich and remembered there was a game and watched a surprisingly delightful Fire match on ESPN+ a bit late but it was new to me. Gaitan...wow. He brung the groceries didn't he!?!? Two great assists. I can't wait for Frankowski to mend but who do you take out? Good problems to have.