After a wild weekend in MLS and a 1-1 draw in Music City, Chicago Fire FC sit on the better side of the playoff line heading into their last two games of the 2020 regular season.
Here’s what Wednesday night will look like against head coach Adrian Heath and Minnesota United in the Fire’s penultimate match of the regular season at Allianz Field.
RESILIENT
Minnesota have been dealing with not only injuries, international duty and suspensions, but also positive COVID-19 tests. Despite the obstacles, they still find themselves with an “x” next to their name in the Western Conference table in fourth place on 1.58 points per game. The difference between the fourth and fifth spots is a home or away match in the first round of the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, so the Loons will have plenty to play for to stay ahead of fifth place LAFC come Wednesday night.
Despite some match cancellations and postponements – including this one against the Fire – MNUFC have been on a nice little run and remain one of the most dangerous attacking teams in MLS. They have gone unbeaten in their last six matches, which includes a 2-1 win over Colorado in their last outing.
STILL DANGEROUS
Club-record transfer Emanuel Reynoso is the man who pulls the strings in the middle of the park playing as a No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Reynoso has a wicked left foot, and is really clever in tight spaces. He is a true No. 10 that possesses pace on the ball, a range of passes, and loves to link up with the likes of wingers Kevin Molino and Ethan Finlay.
Reynoso’s delivery from set pieces is Álvaro Medrán level. The former Boca Juniors man whips the ball in with pace and precision. Reynoso has four assists already this year and has only been with the club for 11 games after signing as a Designated Player on Sept. 1. He still has yet to score a goal for the Loons.
Kevin Molino has been leading the charge statistically speaking, and if he is clicking, it usually means the entire side is clicking. The Trinidad and Tobago international has seven goals and three assists, but has not registered either one in close to a month. Molino is a very real threat in the attacking third and operates in similar fashion to the Fire’s wingers. Like Ignacio Aliseda on the left-hand side, Molino is inverted and likes to cut inside to link up with Reynoso or whoever the striker is on the day. In addition, they are even more like Fire wingers in the sense that they drop/shift in between the lines. This means that they will come back to receive the ball, but also sort of position themselves in between the sideline and the middle of the field. That allows them to make room for an overlapping run from the outside-back and still have the option to make something happen on the exterior themselves.
Getting immediate pressure on Molino and Reynoso is key in trying to contain the Minnesota attack. I didn’t use the word “stop” because I truly think they have too much quality to stop for a full 90 minutes. You can only hope to contain them and make sure you have cover and balance from your centerbacks when they have the ball.
Midfielder Jan Gregus is strong in the middle of the field and is usually paired nicely by MLS veteran Ozzie Alonso. However, Alonso unfortunately came off injured against Colorado in the first half. I expect Jacori Hayes to replace him in that spot as he did during the run of play.
(UNDER) PRESSURE!
The press from the Fire has clearly been working. They always seem to create early chances because of the pressure and catching the opposition off-guard in the early stages of the game.
It has been the bread and butter of this group since July’s MLS is Back Tournament and, like a fine wine, it is getting better with time.
A couple weeks ago, Nashville picked some really good spots to go after the Loons and it paid off in those few instances. Minnesota did a decent job of trying to break the first line of pressure, but got caught losing the ball on the fourth or fifth pass. In my opinion, the press from the Fire is much more efficient and relentless than Nashville’s, and Wicky’s boys are also better at turning that press into goal-scoring opportunities than Gary Smith’s bunch.
Going after Minnesota early and often will generate those chances, but like we’ve seen throughout the entirety of the season, the difference between the result the Fire deserve and the one they get is typically reliant upon their composure in front of goal. Wicky has talked about how the amount of chances you create on the road opposed to at home is fractional. Killer instinct and clean finishing is a MUST if the Fire are going to win their first road game of the season and take a colossal step towards qualifying for the post-season.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Fire got some serious help from D.C. United, Inter Miami and Montreal over the weekend. Despite only getting one point in their last two games, the Fire remain in control of their own destiny.
Minnesota are an exciting team to watch and they are usually a side that I will make a point to turn on. Adrian Heath likes to play an expansive, energetic style of football and has the players to do so when everyone is fit.
The Fire enjoy keeping the ball on the deck and trying to break teams down, and got some incredibly high praise from Gary Smith following their matchup with Nashville on Halloween.
Wicky says he sees the progress every game from this side, but unfortunately the results have not totally matched up with that progress that I think everyone can see.
Progress and these half-victories don’t translate into points - or points per game in this case - and I’m sure that gets to the players just as much, if not more, than it does the fans. A season of cork-screws, ambiguity, injuries, quarantines and much more comes down to two games. A win and a draw and the Fire are through.
I think given the complete personnel overhaul - both playing and coaching - a lot of people would’ve signed up for that type of opportunity at the end of the season. I also think you’ll see a sense of urgency, quality and desire that the city of Chicago is worthy of in these remaining 180 minutes. This season may not have been pretty - in more ways than one - but that is without a doubt what everyone has been facing in 2020.
The Fire have an opportunity to get two results and get a fresh start in one of the most unpredictable postseasons in American sports: the MLS Cup Playoffs.
