Pre-match: Fire HOST NYMetroBulls 5.9.26 1:30 Soldier Field

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by xtomx, May 9, 2026.

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What happens in our early afternoon clash between the "First" and "Second" Cities?

  1. Fire win

    6 vote(s)
    75.0%
  2. Fire draw

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Fire lose, again, to inferior opponents

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  4. Something Stupid Happens

    6 vote(s)
    75.0%
  5. There will be blood!

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  6. Malört

    4 vote(s)
    50.0%
  7. Rubber Dick!

    3 vote(s)
    37.5%
  8. Tavern Style pizza is way better than that floppy New York Style pizza

    5 vote(s)
    62.5%
  9. Can we have a Mamdani in Chicago, please? He seems like he wants to actually get things done.

    5 vote(s)
    62.5%
  10. No way, he's a "Socialist" and everything about "Socialism" is baaaaaaaaaaad!

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  11. The "war" (skirmish, mini-war, excursion, etc.) in Iran sure is going well, huh?

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  12. Can we just have a weekend of peace, at least for Mother's Day?!?

    4 vote(s)
    50.0%
  13. Raccoon is at Soldier Field, bitching about the early start time, but munching on stale hot dogs

    4 vote(s)
    50.0%
  14. Come on, a 1:30 start time? I am just rolling out of bed.

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  15. I will be at the game, looking for @Pennsylvannia Dave!

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%
  16. It's 9:30 a.m. and I am already preparing to head to Soldier Field. Tailgating, baby!

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  17. I will be planted on the couch.

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  18. I will have the match on in the background while doing something else

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  19. I have something better to do this afternoon.

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  20. I will be up at 3:30 am to watch live (Nah, I'll still be up, just gettin' home from the clubs!)

    1 vote(s)
    12.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Very short preview today, as I have to work. Doing some volunteer work for the local theater where I am on the Board of Directors. We are receiving a donation of some furniture and have to move it. My aching (and partially surgically repaired) back is not looking forward to this.

    After last week's incredibly disappointing loss to Cincinnati, where the Fire, once again, blew a comfortable lead at the end, the Fire get to take on the team from not-New York.

    The Fire, despite some depressing results lately (out of the US Cup, two blown leads versus Cincinnati), still sit comfortably in fourth place in the East. The Fire are on 17 points from 10 matches. Still pretty damned good (but should be 21, if they could have seen out both Cincinnati matches. F*ck you, Evander!).

    NYRB are sitting in 11th, with 12 points from 11 matches (tied with NYCFC and Columbus)

    A win today takes Chicago back to second in the East. The Fire have 19 goals for and 11 against, both pretty damned good, but, after a string of shutouts, the Fire have letting in more goals as of late.

    NYRB are "led" by 18 year old NYC native Homegrown player Julian Hall. He has 6 goals on the season.

    Second in scoring is Jorge Ruvalcaba, he is inexplicably a Designated Player. Born in Rialto, Ca, he went through the UNAM system, playing with them the last few years. He has represented Mexico once or twice, not that we have ever heard of someone born in the US and playing in MLS EVER playing for Mexico. Nope, that is completely unknown to Chicago fans.

    Aging Designated Players Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Emil Forsberg are still out there, trying their best with diminishing results.


    The Fire are still missing three players.
    Long term injury to Franco
    Lod has a broken face.
    Barroso is still out.

    Bamba is working his way back to fitness and should start today.
    Mueller may be back, if that matters at all.

    Injury Report:

    [​IMG]
    Chicago Fire FC
    • OUT: Leonardo Barroso (lower body)
    • OUT: André Franco (lower body)
    • OUT: Robin Lod (face)

    [​IMG]
    Red Bull New York
    • OUT: A.J. Marcucci (knee)
    • QUESTIONABLE: Justin Che (hamstring)
    Caution Accumulation Warnings
    As of May 6, 2026

    The following players are one caution away from suspension/fine:
    • Philip Zinckernagel, CHI
    • Ronald Donkor, RBNY

    For the match, this should be an eeeeaaaasssyyyy match for the Fire.
    Of course, as always, that means it probably will not be.

    That said, I think the Fire should be suitably pissed by losing the last two matches and should be ready to go.

    Fire win 4-0

    Sorry, about that, Julian Hall. Maybe take this match off and go to your prom (or graduation) tonight. We would not want to see anything "happen" to you.

    I hope to home in time to catch the second half.


    Go Fire!
     
    goldclover repped this.
  2. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Is Lewandowski playing?
     
    bunge, xtomx, schroncar and 1 other person repped this.
  3. Redmaynard

    Redmaynard Member

    May 20, 2007
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I will monitor the game, but I have more important sports to watch. Deeetroit Basketball! I've been a fan for 45 years, don't come at me. Those that trash Detroit clearly don't actually know anything about it. Even in fun on these boards.
     
    Jiggly_333, Old Man! and bunge repped this.
  4. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    Our first good weather game!!!!
    upload_2026-5-9_10-58-1.jpeg

    AND! The only game of the season that both my (adult) children can attend! WOO!HOO!

    VAMOS FIRE!!!
     
    goldclover repped this.
  5. Jiggly_333

    Jiggly_333 Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 8, 2015
    Corner of Bedlam and Squalor (It's that way ->)
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Korea Republic
    It's the bar, not the club. My friends were performing.
    20260509_210604.jpg

    I'm absolutely sleeping through. They better win or I'll have to intervene.
     
    Old Man! and xtomx repped this.
  6. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
  7. Old Man!

    Old Man! BigSoccer Supporter

    Chicago Fire SC
    Mar 11, 2000
    The last week of Chicago Fire losing soccer has absolutely crushed my enthusiasm for this team. I’ll check the score later. Absolutely no way I’m giving this team hours of my life again until they get their shit together. If D’avila plays in this game I’m going to lose my mind.
     
    bunge repped this.
  8. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Tiny, tiny crowd today.

    [​IMG]

    Waterman and Elliott in the center.
    Bamba and MHS starting

    Mbokazi on the bench.
    Mueller back on the bench
     
  9. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Consider your mind lost, @Old Man!

    This is pretty sad to read.
    Sure, they have lost two matches and blown leads in three of the last four, but they have been in each match until the very, very end.
     
    bunge and Jiggly_333 repped this.
  10. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I forgot to mention in the Preview that the Chicago Fire website actually had a pretty in depth pre game report. Very rare for the Fire.

    This was interesting:
    • Goalkeeper Chris Brady has faced New York six times in his career, holding a record of 3-1-2 in those matches. Notably, the Homegrown goalkeeper has recorded three clean sheets against the Red Bulls – one each year he has faced the original MLS side.
    https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/...bull-new-york-on-marveltm-day-pres-by-hyundai
     
    schroncar, bunge and Jiggly_333 repped this.
  11. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    It is nice to see people in the tiny crowd in actual shirts and not all bundled up in coats and jackets.
    First match this season with decent weather.
     
    goldclover and Jiggly_333 repped this.
  12. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Chris Brady dribbling the ball way too long, trying to play out of the back.
    Allows NYRB to come forward.

    Fortunately, no harm down.
     
  13. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    The Fire are officially in a 4-3-3

    I am a bit surprised that Lewandowski did not even make the bench today.
     
    bunge repped this.
  14. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Bamba with the goal in the 7th minute.

    Too bad, he was just offsides. Called back
     
  15. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    Detroit is a suburb of itself.
     
    Redmaynard and xtomx repped this.
  16. plezercruz

    plezercruz Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    Mbokazi on the bench for discipline?

    Pete (wonders if TV said?)
     
  17. Jiggly_333

    Jiggly_333 Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 8, 2015
    Corner of Bedlam and Squalor (It's that way ->)
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Korea Republic
    I appreciate this iteration of the Pistons. Cade Cunningham is very fun. I want to see a Pistons v Wolves finals.

    Anyway, I'm apparently still awake. Just got home and I'm not exactly exhausted. But I'm probably just gonna set the TV sleep timer for after where the final whistle will be and just lie down with the game on. Vaguely worried about the officiating early on.
     
    Redmaynard, bunge and xtomx repped this.
  18. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    TV did not. However, I suspect it is just a bit of squad rotation, as he has played quite a bit.
     
  19. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Zinckernagel trying a chippy shot over the keeper, but it goes just wide.
     
    overlap_old_coach repped this.
  20. plezercruz

    plezercruz Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    I think it might be coach's decision after 2 bad goal giveaways last game.

    Pete (would approve of that for accountability reasons)
     
    schroncar, overlap_old_coach and xtomx repped this.
  21. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Salétros just a biiiit too far for Cuypers.
     
    goldclover repped this.
  22. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    The Fire are severely outplaying New York.

    It should be only a matter of time before the Fire blow this match wide open.

    Not saying they will break it open (this is the Fire, after all), but it should be.
     
  23. plezercruz

    plezercruz Member+

    Sep 20, 2004
    I am already tired of this familiar narrative...

    Pete (does prefer it to the narrative of the last 10 years though)
     
    goldclover, xtomx and overlap_old_coach repped this.
  24. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    The worst…possession chances possession chances posession, give away they score:confused:
    upload_2026-5-9_14-27-51.jpeg
     
    bunge repped this.
  25. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    And 1000% against the run of play (but not completely surprising) the Fire give up a goal.

    Perhaps @Old Man! was right!
     
    goldclover and schroncar repped this.

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