Deja freakin’ vu: Fire-Gals match reaction

It’s hard to know how to take this point: Is it a miracle of teamwork and opportunism, overcoming a moment of first-half madness on the part of one player; or is it yet another Fire collapse in injury time? Both, probably.

Is there a more equivocal sport in the universe? One more suited to ambivalence? After the early ejection of Segares, after the scrappy second half, after all the subs were expended for both sides, the Fire had battled a listless Galaxy to a draw despite the disadvantage. Then Collins John strokes a free-kick around the wall and into the far corner, and it’s howling-at-the-moon time – five minutes left, 1-0 Chicago; all is right in the world.

Then, the deluge. The Fire seemed content to cede possession and play defense to try to close the game – always risky against a foe as toothsome as LA, and doubly risky for a team which has lost its last two on late goals. It was with the awful inevitability of a bad dream that Gonzalez got on the end of the Galaxy’s third corner in 90 seconds – you see it coming; you’re recoiling in horror and shouting warnings in every tongue you can manage (”Look out! Regardez! ¡Aqui! Lieber Gott! Este! Aiee! Aiee!”); and yet, and yet, and yet.

I’d love to feel this was a scrappy point the Fire didn’t deserve, but I can’t. The Galaxy played poorly with the extra man, seldom letting the ball do the work, and as the second half wore on, it was the Fire creating the better chances. In particular, McBride flicking on to Castillo and Nyarko caused some heartburn for the Gals. Again, like the road games against Houston and Seattle, Chicago had a chance for a good result in the dying stages of the game; and again, the Fire let it slip late.

Ah well. Toronto next, a team we’ve never had great luck with. Here’s hoping we’re up two goals in the dying stages this time.

Notes:
- Thought de los Cobos managed the game well and used his subs to great effect. I haven’t always agreed with his game management, but today he kept the team organized and found shapes that bothered LA even when down a man.

- Hard to imagine a team doing less with a man advantage than the Galaxy did this game. If the Galaxy had more than a couple of possessions greater than 10 passes, I’d be shocked. That said, it was a relief to see another team plagued by impatient, direct play.

- Does it mean anything that Castillo went straight into the locker room after being subbed out in the 69th? I have no idea. Here’s to hoping Notoriously Fickle Nery is not already disgruntled.

Category: Chicago Fire