Game has kicked off: FIRE (4-4-2): Thornton; Gray, Curtin, Bocanegra, Perez; Whitfield, Armas, Marsch, Beasley; Ralph, Razov Colorado (4-4-2): Garlick; Hart, Fraser, Borchers, Kotschau; Henderson, Trembly, Crawford, Chung; Roberts, Carrieri No Spencer, Mastro or Beckerman for them, and a re-adjusted line-up from the LA game for us. Looks like it really is 4-4-2, though, with Whitfield as a middy. Yellow for Hart already. 13th minute: Offside non-goal for Carrieri.
21th minute Announcers mention "chasing Hartman" from the LA game, at length. Lots of applause for the "Barn Burners of Section 8" and their creativity! Damante Razalph gets a mention. "Still in denial" as well. We look good. Except not on corners.
Fire are moving the ball very well but can't create any good opportunites so far. Rapids look a bit lost without Spencer on the field Bill Q. www.thefirealarm.com
HALF TIME Not much aggression in this one. Nobody looks to dangerous, either. Not sure our formation is working, and Colorado does look a bit lost, too. Damani clutching his groin now, but gets up. Beasley offside. There have been quite a few close calls like that. Carrieri saved by Thornton. Gray was beaten outside with speed and the cross went behind our centre-backs, but Carrieri hit it straight at Zach. Razov needs a right-foot to playmake. They are well-ordered at the back. Beasley stretched too wide. 3-5-2 now! Ralph heads wide from Perez cross. We need to do something with these corners! AGH! Curtin and Boca get in each others way on our 7th corner. Ralph has looked a little lazy--well, everybody looks a little unexcited--but he has been slow coming back onside sometimes. And he keeps looking to shoot from 20 yards instead of moving. Not much urgency with anyone here... HALF TIME
We should be, but we just can't finish off our chances. At least the Rapds are having the same problem. Bill Q. www.thefirealarm.com
2nd Half: 1-0 53rd minute We get an 8th corner: GOAL!!! No daylight, no offside: 1-0 FIRE! Ralph's shot deflect's off Marsch's butt. Not sure how to credit this, but Marsch was just about even with the last man, so they complained a bit. Yellow Card for Trembly for bodychecking Ralph. Scoring chance for Colorado, but Henderson can't connect.
79th: Rapids 0-1 Fire Zizi is not John Spencer. Game looks under control, but we have to be careful. The teams are cancelling each other out with the two 4-4-2s. The fact that their centre mid is inexperienced is countered by the fact that Marcsh and Armas stay back. Beas and Whitfield are isolated out wide. We are winning the set-piece aggression war, and luckily we scored on one. Ralph has a cut on his head. Jaqua subs in for him. Powell on for Crawford. Looks decent already.
ante aqua comes on for Damani. I think that if Doran has to talk to Damani on the side line he should be required to speak in a heavy patois.
RED CARD FOR FRASER! High-ish tackle on Marsch. Looks like Pause is warming up. Things may be heating up. Pause in for Marsch.
90th: 1-1 Perfect free-kick by Chung in ~83rd. Upper 90. Zach almost got it, too. We have had a few more chances. Jaqua fluffed a few balls, Whitfield shanked a cross. We haven't been able to close this off like we should.
Overtime Everybody looks very tired. We should bring on our last sub for somebody. Dipsy? Futagaki? ...Ring? We can get them if we hustle. I hate overtime, too, but I want three points. Where is Darryl Powell?
Williams is coming on for the 2nd overtime...not sure for who. It sounds like Jesse is going to miss some time from that injury.
Im glad Richie Kotschau doesn't play for us anymore. However, Nat Borchers would look good in a Fire jersey someday.