Five weeks, five matches and trips to both coasts -- along with an untold number of hours of mental and physical preparation -- have brought the Chicago Fire to the final stages of 2016 preseason training.
The Men In Red have their sights set on concluding camp on a high note, facing defending MLS Cup champion and Simple Invitational host Portland Timbers at 7 p.m. CT Saturday in the Rose City. The Fire are the only club in the four-team tournament with six points from their first two matches, having defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3-2) and Minnesota United FC (4-0) earlier this week.
The match will stream live on Chicago-Fire.com.
Following their final preseason fixture, the Fire will spend Sunday returning to Chicagoland before joining the festivities of the annual Season Kickoff Luncheon Monday (SILENT AUCTION) in downtown Chicago. Come Tuesday, their attention will be focused squarely on preparing mind and body for the March 6 home and season opener vs. New York City FC (1 p.m. CT, Comcast SportsNet Chicago).
What can be expected from Veljko Paunovic’s side Saturday night? The Men In Red have equitably shared minutes over their previous two outings, so there are any number of personnel combinations available to Pauno as the squad looks to build comfort and cohesion ahead of next Sunday.
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“Like we’ve been so far, I think it’s important that we prepare for every game with the same attitude, play the same way we want to play during the season,” Paunovic said. “For Saturday, it’s another preseason game but we want to win and it’s on us to prepare well and have a good game against the champions in their home. I believe it’s going to be a very good game.”
Defensively, Paunovic may choose to get another look at the centerback pairing of Johan Kappelhof and Joao Meira, who split opposite halves in the midweek win over Minnesota.
“On the backline, we have to be 100 percent concentrated and win balls, win balls in the air, and play our game, it doesn’t matter against who,” said Kappelhof, who is looking forward to experiencing the American city he now calls home. “This weekend against Portland we’ll do our best and try to win the game.”
WATCH: Fire Top Minnesota United FC | Gilberto Keeps Mood Light
The Fire’s quartet of options on the outside -- Michael Harrington and 20-year-old Rodrigo Ramos on the right, Brandon Vincent and Patrick Doody on the left -- also divvied up Wednesday’s minutes and have all shown a willingness and capability to involve themselves in the action going forward. Harrington, Vincent and Ramos all notched assists in the team’s four-goal effort Wednesday night.
Chicago's fluid play in the attacking third has been matched by equally fluid lineup selections as Paunovic evaluates all of his available options. Even without the services of David Accam, each unit has upheld the standard and style of play in recent outings, with both Gilberto and Kennedy Igboananike in strong form leading the line going forward.
Second-year man Matt Polster was an anchor in the midfield in each of the first two matches in Portland, controlling play and contributing to the effectiveness of Paunovic’s high pressing system up the field. He’s partnered well with Fire returners Razvan Cocis and Michael Stephens to date and is sure to be key in disrupting Portland’s potential attacking weapons, including Darlington Nagbe, Fanendo Adi, Dairon Asprilla, Diego Valeri and Jack McInerney.
Timbers head coach Caleb Porter fielded an experimental side in Portland’s 2-0 defeat to Vancouver midweek, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll opt for further looks at newcomers over building first-choice cohesion. Regardless, the match will give the Men In Red their first experience of 2016 playing in a hostile road environment when the Timbers Army comes out to support their side in the final preseason tune-up.
“It’s going to be incredible,” said Fire rookie Joey Calistri, who is coming off a first-half brace Wednesday night. “It’s going to be more people than I’ve ever played in front of but hopefully I trust what I can do out there and the rest takes care of itself, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
