Fire Preseason Marches On in Rose City

The grind of preseason training rolls on for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club this week, with Frank Yallop’s squad set for its first test of 2015 against an MLS side Wednesday night. The Men In Red take the pitch at Providence Park against the host Portland Timbers in their second of three outings at the Simple Invitational, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT.

Fans can once again watch all the action with a live video stream on both Chicago-Fire.com and CSNChicago.com. The live video portal on Chicago-Fire.com will be made live approximately one hour before kickoff.

TRAINING UPDATE
Sunday’s mid-afternoon fixture with Norwegian side Stabaek IF turned into a laborious affair for both the Men In Red and their opposition, with Yallop noting after the match the extent to which he had been pushing his squad physically in the days leading up to the contest. That translated into a heavy day of regeneration activities for the boys on Monday, a day that featured a light training session and walk-throughs coupled with plenty of muscle therapy and time off their feet.

Tuesday was a bit more of a return to the norm, with the team returning to the University of Portland’s Merlo Field for a slightly more intensive day of training. After exiting Sunday’s Stabaek scrimmage with signs of mild cramping and soreness, both midfielder Shaun Maloney and defender Lovel Palmer were full participants in Tuesday’s session. David Accam, who Yallop described Sunday as having felt a slight twinge in his groin during his Fire debut, remained on a course of regeneration activities.

The Fire put in plenty of work around the net on Tuesday, executing a crisp, one-touch finishing drill in the penalty area and also spending a substantive amount of time on set pieces and direct free kicks. The Men In Red, who created the better of the opportunities in their scoreless draw with Stabaek, take the field Wednesday looking to add to Quincy Amarikwa's lone preseason tally thus far. 

At the other end of the field, captain Jeff Larentowicz is part of a defensive unit that has recorded three perfect scorelines in as many outings this month. While Larentowicz and Adailton were flanked by Joevin Jones and Lovel Palmer for the lion's share of minutes against Stabaek, Wednesday is shaping up to be a prime opportunity for Yallop and his staff to evaluate its options on the back line -- and throughout the lineup. 

"I think there have been multiple back lines and everyone who's played has been part of the clean sheets," Larentowicz said. "I think at this point the coaches are looking for the best combination, and the other day was another example of that. Some guys played longer minutes [Sunday] so I think we're moving toward a back four, but again everybody is kind of in the mix there."

PORTLAND TIMBERS
The Timbers are coming off a 1-0 defeat Sunday at the hands of Vancouver Whitecaps FC -- the third and final opponent looming for the Men In Red at the Simple Invitational -- in match played before 15,491 fans at Providence Park. The Timbers fielded a strong lineup to start the match and outshot the ’Caps, 7-1, in the first half, but were forced to play the final 30 minutes with a 10-man side following a second yellow card issued to midfielder Rodney Wallace. A total of eight yellow cards were issued in the match. 

Timbers head coach Caleb Porter utilized only three substitutes during his side’s match on Sunday -- compared to five by the Whitecaps and seven by Yallop against Stabaek -- but on Tuesday suggested that spectators may see a more generous mix of Portland players on the pitch against the Fire Wednesday. His squad, already without injured midfielders Will Johnson and Diego Valeri, saw midfielder Ben Zemanski go down with a confirmed ACL tear Sunday against Vancouver. 

While the Fire have faced a stout mixture of European opposition in its preseason preparation to date, they'll be facing an MLS club for the first time Wednesday while the Timbers line up against a league side for a fifth time. Portland has already met Sporting KC, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 

CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION HOSTS SEASON KICKOFF LUNCHEON PRESENTED BY MAGELLAN CORPORATION
The Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, will hold its 17th annual Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon presented by Magellan Corporation on Monday, March 2, at 11 a.m. CT at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601).

The annual event, benefiting the Chicago Fire Foundation, offers Fire supporters the first opportunity to meet the 2015 Chicago Fire team and raise funds in the name of charity. In addition to interacting with Fire players, coaches and technical staff, the event includes a reception, lunch and silent auction where attendees can bid on autographed Fire and other sports memorabilia, gift certificates and much more. In 2014, the Season Kickoff Luncheon raised more than $70,000 benefiting soccer and education programs for underprivileged Chicagoland youths.

Tickets are now on sale here or by contacting Crystal Hassinger at 708-496-6657 or chassinger@chicago-fire.com. Tickets start at $90 a person, with full tables for 10 guests at $850.