CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Chicago Fire will look to take their first hardware of the season as a win or draw Saturday night vs. Vancouver (live stream at 4pm CT on Chicago-Fire.com) would secure the 2013 Carolina Challenge Cup for the Men in Red.
A weather update: Heavy rain fell overnight here in Charleston and is forecast with a mix of thunderstorms throughout the day. At time of kickoff this afternoon, the local forecast calls for 58 degrees, with a 70% chance of precipitation.
HIGHLIGHTS: Fire 2, Battery 1 (2/20/2013)
Fire fans will remember last year’s Challenge Cup finale vs. Charleston was cancelled due to potential injury concerns playing on the water-logged pitch at Blackbaud Stadium when similar weather conditions occurred throughout the day here.
Should Saturday’s doubleheader be cancelled, the Fire would take the 2013 Carolina Challenge Cup.
Should both games go a certain way, an interesting tie-breaking condundrum could occur... Lets just hope the Fire take care of business.
In case you missed it Friday, forward Quincy Amarikwa has joined Fire camp. Amarikwa played 28 minutes as a guest player and drew the eventual game-winning penalty kick in the team’s 1-0 win over San Jose on February 9.
Since then, Fire head coach Frank Klopas has acknowledged the team was trying to secure the UC-Davis product’s services from Toronto FC. With his re-arrival in camp, a deal should be imminent.
Just like the Fire, Vancouver has had a new arrival in Charleston, as former West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has officially joined the team. Though he’s here in the Palmetto State, the former England U-21 international isn’t expected to see time Saturday night.
After Klopas basically utilized two different teams in the 2-1 victory over Charleston on Wednesday, expect Saturday’s game vs. Vancouver to be played much more like a regular season game, in order to push starters for next Sunday’s season opener at LA Galaxy.
After an ankle injury suffered in last Saturday’s 3-2 win over Houston, defender Gonzalo Segares did train with the team Friday afternoon but no decision has been made as to his status for tonight’s match.
While the Fire have fallen behind in both previous Challenge Cup matches, Saturday’s opponents Vancouver have gone ahead in their two games.
Last Saturday the Whitecaps used a brace from rookie Kekuta Manneh and another from Daigo Kobayashi to run out to a 3-0 lead on Charleston before hanging on for a 3-2 victory.
On Wednesday, Vancouver went up 1-0 through Corey Hertzog in the 27th minute before two goals from Will Bruin and Adam Moffat in as many minutes forced them into their first loss of preseason with a 2-1 defeat vs. Houston.
The Fire are 1-1-1 all-time vs. Whitecaps FC, using Pavel Pardo’s first half free kick to earn a 1-0 victory in the last meeting on July 14, 2012.
The Fire enter Saturday’s game with a 4-1-1 preseason record (2-1-1 vs. MLS teams)
* Previous Results: 2-0 win vs. Florida Gulf Coast (Jan. 27), 2-1 L vs. Columbus Crew (Jan. 30), 1-1 draw vs. Chivas USA (Feb. 5), 1-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Feb. 9), 3-2 win vs. Houston Dynamo (Feb. 17), 2-1 win vs. Charleston Battery (Feb. 20)
* Fire Goal Scorers: Jeff Larentowicz (2), Yazid Atouba (2), Daniel Paladini, Sherjill MacDonald, Alex, Austin Berry
* Vancouver enter Saturday’s game with a 5-1-0 preseason record (2-1-0 vs. MLS teams)
* Previous Results: 4-1 win vs. New England Revolution (Jan. 29), 2-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo (Feb. 2), 1-0 win vs. Arizona Sahuaros (Feb. 4), 3-2 win vs. Charleston Battery (Feb. 16), 2-0 win vs. College of Charleston (Feb. 17), 2-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo (Feb. 20)
* Whitecaps FC goalscorers: Darren Mattocks (4), Paulo Jr. (3), Kekuta Manneh (2), Corey Hertzog (2) Daigo Kobayasi, Kenny Miller
