Chicago’s packed preseason fixture list brings the next test on Sunday (Feb. 19) at 5 p.m. CT, when the Men In Red return to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. to square off with NASL side Miami FC in a preseason friendly.
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With favorable results to show for their first few outings, the Fire can continue to focus on building on the positives that have been on display -- namely, cohesion and efficiency among the front four in attack, consistent spells of possession and distribution in midfield, and a defensive unit that’s yet to concede from the run of play in three games.
Eager to see his side off to a strong start in the 2017 MLS regular season, Veljko Paunovic has a few options for managing the seven days and three friendlies that remain before game week. After a largely first-choice lineup played 70-plus minutes in Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Montreal, Pauno may choose to limit that group’s shifts Sunday, or allow them another lengthy run on the weekend with hopes of a final full dress rehearsal next Saturday vs. Toronto FC.
Whichever side takes the field Sunday, they’ll be coming up against a Miami FC side -- managed by Italian great Alessandro Nesta -- with no shortage of talent. The club finished mid-table (sixth of 13) in 2016 and boasts the likes of former MLS talents Kwadwo Poku and Michael Lahoud in the midfield, former Fire centerback Adailton as well as Gabriel Farfán in defense, while newcomer Stefano Pinho is a scoring threat alongside established Miami FC striker Jaime Chávez.
2017 Chicago Fire Ticket Information
Miami FC is in the midst of a lengthy preseason training schedule, which began Feb. 9 and continues all the way through the run-up to the season-opener on March 25. The squad opened play with a 2-1 win against the Djordje Mihailovic-led U.S. U-19 side before suffering a 6-1 loss Wednesday at the hands of the aforementioned Toronto FC, as Sebastian Giovinco buried two first-half goals to lead the defending Eastern Conference champs.
With the eyes of most Fire fans fixated on the promising partnerships of Nemanja Nikolic, Michael de Leeuw and David Accam up top as well as Dax McCarty and Juninho anchoring midfield -- “I think the communication between them is becoming very, very important for the team,” Paunovic said of the latter duo – the back line remains a place where competition continues to flourish. Brandon Vincent and Michael Harrington have received starting minutes to date, while Patrick Doody, unsigned rookie Matej Dekovic and even Joey Calistri have shown well in their appearances at outside back.
Recent scoresheets have told the story of how those positions have fared defensively this preseason, but it’s also their ability to contribute to the Fire’s attack that will determine when and how they are used come March 4 in Columbus.
“I still think we have to work on our attacking patterns,” Pauno said following the midweek win over Montreal. “We have to work on our building out of the back and how we want to progress in the final third. I think we had a very good performance in attack, which came from good transitions, very good pressure, and obviously very good conversion of the opportunities. We’ll keep working on all these things and we’re looking forward to our next game and next week of preparation.”
