BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Sometimes scheduling in MLS can be funny.
I say that as the Chicago Fire have just begun what could be the make-or-break part of their season which started on Sunday with the team set to play a suicide stretch of up to 11 first team matches in 49 days time.
TICKETS: Fire vs. Portland Timbers on Saturday
This comes after the Fire experienced two bye weeks in the first three months of the MLS campaign and just three regular season matches in total during the month of May.
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Date</strong></span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Opponent</strong></span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Competition</strong></span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 2</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. D.C. United</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 8</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Portland </span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 12</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Columbus</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">USOC</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 14</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">@ Charlotte</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Reserve</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 19</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Colorado</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 22</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">@ Columbus</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>June 26</em></span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>vs. SKC/Orlando</em></span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>USOC (pos.)**</em></span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">June 29</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Charlotte</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Reserve</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 3</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. San Jose</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 7</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Sporting KC</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 8 </span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. New York </span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Reserve</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 10</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Club America</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Friendly</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 14</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">@ Vancouver</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 17</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. Columbus</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Reserve</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">July 20</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">vs. D.C. United</span></span> |
<span style="font-size:11px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MLS RS</span></span> |
“It’s different how you prepare for it,” said Fire head coach Frank Klopas. “It’s a different kind of training you do because you have to freshen the guys up for games.
"When you talk about depth and guys you bring in, you rely on those guys and we had to also in the beginning with the injuries we had."
Of the upcoming games (through July 20 vs. D.C. United), eight or regular season, at least one is an Open Cup match next Wednesday, June 12 vs. Columbus (with another coming on June 26 should the Fire be victorious) and one international friendly vs. Club America on July 10.
Add in the fact that the club also has three reserve matches between now and mid-July and certainly the team will be stretched to its limits.
But there is good news…
Part of the fixture congestion is the team’s involvement in the U.S. Open Cup. At this point in 2012, the Fire had already been knocked out of the competition that the club has made much of its name in.
Even better, seven (or eight) of the 10 (or 11) upcoming first team matches will be played at Toyota Park, giving a Fire side that has found a spark from the additions of Mike Magee and Bakary Soumare their best chance of the season to make up ground in the MLS table as well as a major dent in the Open Cup.
Should the Fire be victorious next Wednesday vs. Columbus it also means the team will have a five-week stretch of Wednesday night home matches.
READ: Fire learn their potential quarterfinal Open Cup fate
Still, Klopas admitted that the tough upcoming stretch across two competitions will force him to rely on the depth that has been built in his roster.
“For sure. I think with any team, it’s about trying to add quality players – at least two in any position because of call-ups, injuries, the Gold Cup is coming up, you miss players and it’s a long season.
"It’s not just 11 guys that start, you need to have that kind of depth in every spot. You never know what will happen in the season but [its good] also for guys to be able to push themselves and compete."
