ON FIRE Soccer Heaven, Who's "our Mathis"? and Fire fading... By: Ivaldo Basso September 13 Chicago (CSA) - Cardinal Stadium. Section 8. Row 1. Despite all of the deficiencies of Naperville’s Cardinal Stadium as a MLS soccer venue, I’ve found a piece of soccer heaven there. Can there be a better MLS ticket than in the first bleacher row of Section 8 on the outside of either goalpost behind the goal at Cardinal Stadium? From here, only a few feet from the end line, one can smell the competitiveness and guile that emanate from Hristo Stoitchkov, sense the pulse less calm of Zach Thornton on a corner kick, and marvel at the ‘tree trunk’ legs of Taylor Twellman and Jason Kreis. With the Barnburners, a group in its prime this season, chiming in from behind, a tasty diet of soccer supreme awaits behind the goal. Perhaps Bill Buford said it best in Among the Thugs. Of standing on the terraces in Britain, Buford writes, “It was, I see now on reflection, not unlike alcohol or tobacco: disgusting, at first; pleasurable, with effort; addictive, over time. And perhaps, in the end, a little self destroying.” I was always of the view that soccer was most enjoyed live from high sightlines, and I did not enjoy my first match on the ground. Formations, runs, telegraphing give-and-go’s – all easily deduced from above – are no match for the sense of speed and physicality of the game that are apparent a few feet from the touchline at field level. My newfound love for the spot besides the post is a bit self-destroying when considering that I’m ‘missing’ the half of the game that takes place on the other half of the field. The sense of eleven men gunning for the spot inches from my seat, however, finds me addicted enough to adequately compensate. Who’s “Our Mathis”? A couple of weeks ago on MLSnet.com, Jeff Bradley wrote that New York is 16-0-2 when Clint Mathis scores a goal. Further, the Metrostars are 22-1-4 when Mathis registers a goal and/or an assist. That statistic got me wondering whether the Fire had a similar player. They do. The Fire is 22-5-3 in all competitions all time when Dema Kovalenko scores a goal. Chicago’s record improves to 35-7-5 when Kovalenko registers a goal and/or assist. This season, Kovalenko has only three goals – the lowest output of his career. His first two, the second a marvelous volley from 25 yards, came in the Fire’s 2-1 victory over Morelia in the FC Champions Cup on July 10th. His only MLS tally was one month later, scoring the fourth goal in a 5-1 win against Kansas City. Chicago is 5-1-1 in the matches that Kovalenko has recorded an assist in this year. Fire Fading The Fire is a combined 22-8-2 when playing in their last eight MLS regular season games during the past four seasons. Chicago is 2-4 in their previous six games this season, with two left to play. The Fire likely need at least a tie to avoid sitting out the playoffs for the first time in their five year history. Chicago can clinch a playoff berth Saturday by beating Columbus and watching New England lose or tie in Dallas. Chicago can also clinch with a tie if New England loses in Dallas, the Metrostars win or tie at D.C. United and Kansas City wins or ties at home to Colorado. Ivaldo Basso can be reached at ibasso@cybersoccernews.com. © Basso/Cyber Soccer Associates, LLC 2002