Just as quickly as it arrived, preseason camp has essentially ended for the Men In Red.
Thirty-three days after first convening at The PrivateBank Fire Pitch in Chicago, the Fire are poised to play their sixth and final preseason friendly at 2 p.m. CT Saturday (live stream: Chicago-Fire.com) -- exactly one week from their 2017 opener at Columbus Crew SC (March 4, 1 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago). Once the fulltime whistle blows Saturday, all focus will shift to opening the season with three road points against a Midwest rival.
Standing opposite the Fire at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg Saturday is a side that figures to be one of the most formidable in MLS this year, defending Eastern Conference champion Toronto FC. Like the Fire, TFC has shown well in recent outings, blowing past Miami FC, 6-1, then defeating MLS newcomer Minnesota United FC, 3-0, thanks to a brace by Sebastian Giovinco that included this stellar left-footed rip:
Toronto FC made a recent splash on the transfer market, signing 30-year-old Spanish midfielder Vincent Vazquez as another piece to an already potent attack. Vazquez played 30 minutes in the win over Minnesota for his unofficial TFC debut.
In addition to concluding their respective preseasons against one another, the Fire and TFC are also linked by a common early-season MLS opponent. Greg Vanney’s club begins 2017 on the road at Real Salt Lake, the same team Chicago will welcome to Toyota Park for the Fire’s home-opener on March 11. Saturday's foes last met in the final regular season match of 2016, when the Dutch duo of Michael de Leeuw and John Goossens scored for Chicago in a match that ultimately saw TFC prevail, 3-2.
As for Veljko Paunovic, Saturday’s matinee could provide a chance for his projected opening day Starting XI to work together against a stout opponent, while beginning to feel the weight of something approaching a 90-minute shift. As Michael de Leeuw pointed out Friday, the squad’s primary concerns will remain with its own motives and directives, rather than worrying too much about the tactical and personnel challenges that are unique to Toronto FC.
For the Fire, that means continuing to build throughout the lines, as Dax McCarty and Juninho dictate tempo and provide defensive cover in front of the centerbacks and a point of origin for the attack. Their experience and expertise is sure to be invaluable against teams with attacking quality at the level of Toronto FC’s, so Saturday could offer an early glance at the Fire’s formula for success in 2017.
Capping off a perfect preseason slate in the won-loss column would be a fine start to the year for the Fire, especially since doing so would mean a win over a TFC group that looks poised to pick up where it left off in the MLS Cup playoffs. But a fluid performance that sets them up to earn a result in a season-opener for the first time since 2012 remains priority No. 1 Saturday in St. Petersburg.
