Phase one is in the books.
The Chicago Fire entered preseason training under Veljko Paunovic intent on two objectives: establishing a team identity that took its cues from Paunovic himself, and implementing a well-defined yet adaptable style of play on the pitch.
As the Men In Red pack up their belongings in Portland to return to the Windy City, it’s safe to say the squad made great progress in both areas over the last five weeks.
And along the way? They happened to win five preseason matches in undeniably impressive fashion.
The latest was Saturday night’s 2-0 victory over reigning MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers FC in the Timbers’ typically raucous home building, which allowed the Fire to clinch the 2016 Simple Invitational championship with a 3-0-0 record and a plus-7 goal differential. With both sides fielding close to first-choice lineups, the win carried slightly more significance for the victors than the average preseason outcome.
“It feels great because we saw that we can [win],” Paunovic said. “The players, the guys, they did it great and they deserved it. They worked hard and they were a team. They followed the game plan, and all this means a lot before we start the season with the home opener against New York City FC.”
TICKETS: Chicago Fire vs. NYCFC (Sunday, 1 p.m. CT)
How tough is it to leave Providence Park with three points against the Timbers? Consider that in 2015, Portland lost only three times in 17 MLS regular season home matches, and in those same 17 matches allowed more than one goal on just four occasions. Although the Timbers also lost by a 2-0 scoreline Wednesday to the Vancouver Whitecaps, that midweek team was a much more experimental side than the one fielded by Caleb Porter in Saturday’s preseason finale.
The hosts certainly began the match on the front foot Saturday, with numerous rushes on goal in the game’s opening minutes. They rarely relented, earning 16 corner kicks in the game and generally showing the organization and attacking prowess that carried them to the club’s first MLS Cup in December.
But the Men In Red were built to withstand the challenge. Paunovic gave the goalkeeping nod to the recently signed Matt Lampson -- who racked up an impressive nine saves in preserving the clean sheet -- and paired Johan Kappelhof with promising rookie Jonathan Campbell in central defense. He then opted to shield them with both Joao Meira, who essentially served as a fifth defender, and the disruptive Matt Polster.
“Pauno has a very good style and system and it showed tonight,” said Polster, who wore the captain’s armband for the Fire for the full 90 minutes. “We took a lot of pressure, but we bent and didn’t break. As long as we believe in the system and trust Pauno, I think we’ll be all right.”
Facing a tireless and seasoned opponent like Portland, the Fire relied slightly less on sustained possession and more on counterattacking through Kennedy Igboananike and John Goossens. Still, they remained committed to building from the back and sending the likes of Michael Harrington and Brandon Vincent forward when possible.
“Organization was the biggest thing," Lampson said. "A lot of people think we may play a defensive style, but in the grand scheme that’s how we get the ball and then possess. That was the first time we played with five in the back and we killed it."
“Defensively we did very well,” Paunovic said. “We defended when we needed to defend and we knew how to counter attack and surprise [Portland]. I’m very happy because of the players’ [performance]. They did a very good job and did their best. Now, we have to prepare [for NYCFC]. It’s great to finish the preseason like this, winning the tournament and defeating Portland, one of the best teams [in the league].”
With his first MLS preseason as a head coach behind him, Paunovic can now focus squarely on the challenges -- and opportunities -- presented by New York City FC on Sunday.
“It’s going to be a great game,” he said. “All of this is very promising and we are going to [continue to] prepare so our fans can cheer us at home and enjoy this season.”
