Saturday, March 16th, 2019 MLS Week 3 | SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview IL Kickoff: 12:00pm CT Referee: Joseph Dickerson Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Eric Boria 4th Official: Baldomero Toledo VAR: Kevin Stott The Fire could really use a win before the international break. But they’re going up against the toughest of their first three 2019 opponents. They also tend to not do well in March. It’ll definitely be a tough climb. PREVIEW & VIEWING OPTIONS Full Preview: Fire vs Sounders Television: N/A (US), TSN1 (CAN) Online Streaming: ESPN+ Live Updates: @HotTimeOldTown (livetweets by Ruben) | MLS Matchcenter CHICAGO FIRE Starting XI: Ousted; Hasler, Kappelhof, Marcelo, Campos; Schweinsteiger, McCarty (c); Sapong, Mihailovic, Frankowski; Nikolic Bench: Sanchez, Lillard, Edwards, Bronico, Martinez, Herbers, Moreno SEATTLE SOUNDERS Starting XI: Frei; Smith, Marshall, Kim, Leerdan; C. Roldan, Svensson; Rodriguez, Lodeiro (c), Morris; Ruidiaz Bench: Meredith, Torres, Nouhou, Delem, A. Roldan, Shipp, Bwana JOIN THE CONVERSATION Be sure to follow our full coverage of every Chicago Fire game this season, along with breaking news, tactical analysis, and opinion. Join the conversation in the comments below or on social media.<doc-sep>Chicago Fire 2 Edwards 56’, Herbers 84’ Seattle Sounders 4 Rodriguez 8’, Morris 15’, Lodeiro 49’ (PK), Ruidíaz 88’ Here is your quick & dirty editorial-free recap of the Chicago Fire home match against Seattle. The Fire lost 2-4, with Chicago goals from Raheem Edwards and Fabian Herbers. Seattle goals from Victor Rodriguez, Jordan Morris, Nicolas Lodeiro, and Raúl Ruidíaz. 8’ 0-1 Rodriguez 15’ 0-2 Morris What a ball from Nico. What a finish from @JmoSmooth13! https://t.co/ClFMCQ1bVg — Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 16, 2019 49’ 0-3 Lodeiro (PK) 56’ 1-3 Edwards 84’ 2-3 Herbers 88’ 2-4 Ruidíaz On fire! @RaulRuidiazM has now scored in 8 straight MLS matches. https://t.co/3420tggoY5 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 16, 2019 Stay tuned for more postgame coverage here on Hot Time In Old Town. In the meantime, join the conversation in the comments or on social media.<doc-sep>Chicago Fire 2 Edwards 56’, Herbers 84’ Seattle Sounders 4 Rodriguez 8’, Morris 15’, Lodeiro 49’ (PK), Ruidíaz 88’ There’s always a point in the season when the honeymoon comes to a screeching halt. A point at which you realize this team isn’t going to get it together. That our collective opening day optimism was, however well-intentioned, misplaced. From there, it’s crossing our fingers and we don’t sink too far. Then we sink too far, and we start counting down to the end of the season. We knew this honeymoon break was coming. But, and maybe it’s just me, Week 3 seems... a bit soon. So I was fine with the lineup, apart from Katai not being in the Gameday 18 at all. This? This here bothered me. Raheem Edwards was recalled from Lansing. Mo Adams was sent on loan to Memphis and can be recalled at any time. https://t.co/e36CDZrJCj — Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) March 16, 2019 I like Mo Adams a lot. I think he’s going to be an important part of the future of the team. Banishing him to Memphis— Memphis!— doesn’t strike me as good for his development. Anyway, we definitely could’ve used Mo Adams today. Some sloppy defending gave Seattle too much early confidence, and it didn’t take them long to take advantage. Jordan Morris fed Victor Rodriguez for the opening goal for the visitors in the 8th minute. Not long after, Morris got a goal for himself, doubling the lead in the 15th minute. Things were getting really bad really quickly. Every defensive frailty Fire fans have been worried about was on full display today, and the Sounders were well-equipped to take advantage. Bastian Schweinsteiger dropped back to try and shore up the backline. Within minutes, Morris nearly made it 0-3. The Fire were poor in exactly the ways we thought they might be but hoped and prayed they wouldn’t. The Sounders almost made it 0-3 again on 26’ when Kevin Leerdam is played right through the middle, finds the back of the net, but is flagged offside. It was fairly typical for these teams all day: Chicago would give too much space and move too slowly, and Seattle would rip them apart. Nico Hasler had to come off after half an hour, because things weren’t terrible enough. Nice seeing Raheem Edwards back in the team, but what an awful day to return. The Fire had a few isolated promising moments— Djordje Mihailovic and Przemysław Frankowski both forcing Stefan Frei into clutch saves in the first half— but that’s all they were. Moments that led to nothing. The Fire went into halftime thanking their lucky stars it was only 0-2. The numbers say that the Fire's performance hasn't been that bad. The eye test and the scoreboard says otherwise. #cf97 #CHIvSEA #mls https://t.co/KcVMuKiEJR — Hot Time In Old Town (@HotTimeOldTown) March 16, 2019 Barely a minute into the second half, Seattle breaks through again and unspools the Fire’s tattered defense— now organized in a 3-5-2 formation— further. Ruidiaz’ last-second whiff was the only thing keeping the score at 0-2. But the visitors didn’t have to wait long for that third goal— Marcelo tripped Rodriguez in the box (having literally just dropped Basti on his ass) and conceded a penalty. Nicolás Lodeiro’s panenka attempt— because Seattle can’t ever resist the opportunity to flex on scrubs— hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced over the line. 0-3. The Fire did show a faint sign of life on 56’. Sapong, using some nice footwork to deflect two defenders on the edge of the box, sent in a cross that Edwards managed to fly onto. His header caught Frei flat-footed. 1-3. But for the most part, that’s all it seemed. Faint signs. If there was an epic comeback in the cards, it was hard to see. Particularly after Niko was taken off. Which, uh... Fire two goals down at home, take off goalscorer Nemanja Nikolic. Have heard reports they're shopping him. Seems safe to assume that's the case, given this move. #CHIvSEA — Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) March 16, 2019 In fairness, his replacement made good on the opportunity. Fabian Herbers found the back of the net on 84’, scoring his first goal in Fire Red and pulling the good guys to within one goal. But whatever momentum they might’ve gained from that goal didn’t last long. Raúl Ruidíaz managed to beat David Ousted— who had rushed well off his line— and dropped Basti on his butt (sensing a theme here?) to slot into an empty net. 2-4. And that was that. For all the promise, for all the optimism, for all the hoping against hope that maybe this team was finally getting its shit together, the Fire now have one (1) point from their first three games. You can blame it on a weak backline. You can blame it on not doing well in March. You can blame it on any number of factors. The takeaway is the same: it’s just not good enough. I dunno. Games like this just take it out of you. — Hot Time In Old Town (@HotTimeOldTown) March 16, 2019 The Chicago Fire (0-1-2, 1pt) are off next weekend due to the international break. They’re back at it in front of the home fans in two weeks when they take on the Red Bulls.<doc-sep>It was their biggest test of the early season. The Seattle Sounders burst out to a strong two-goal lead by the 15th minute and looked ready to run rampant. Seattle didn’t just look good, they looked perfect. After some adjustments by Chicago Fire coach Veljko Paunovic and shaky defense by the Sounders backline the match was in doubt. The Sounders’ flaws were as obvious as their previous perfection. Raúl Ruidíaz ended all Chicago hopes with the sixth goal of the game. His third of the season gave Seattle a 4-2 win, their third straight to start the season. Talking Points Jordan Morris won’t let teams forget him In 2017, Morris had just three goals in 23 appearances. He missed all of 2018 with the ACL injury. He now leads the league (with Ruidiaz) with three goals scored in 2019. He collected an assist as well. Morris even got off the first shot of the match on a near-perfect redirect that forced David Ousted into an uncomfortable save. In the first 20 minutes, Morris’ assault on goal was near perfect. He assisted, scored and created matchup problems in all facets. The 2019 version of Jordan Morris might just be the best American forward, who happens to play on the wing. Sounders struggle to control tempo in second halves It’s been a point of emphasis by Brian Schmetzer for the past couple weeks and yet it still isn’t corrected. The Sounders are willing to cede control of matches when the score is clearly in their favor. In Saturday’s match that almost meant a lot more nervy moments than a game with a three-goal lead should produce, as the Fire scored two in the second half and remained in striking distance. Against stronger teams, that ability to go into cruise control will hurt them, and they could give up leads. There isn’t a better front four in MLS right now Every starting member of the front four scored in the victory. Morris, Lodeiro and Ruidiaz also collected assists and Rodriguez drew the penalty. The diverse, potent attack can come from all angles, via buildup or counter. Attempts to mark them all are futile. The attack was so good that Chicago coach Veljko Paunovic needed tactical subs at 35’ and at half. Did you see that? The central run from winger Jordan Morris creates a tiny space for Nicolas Lodeiro to feed the ball. Morris’ touch is perfect, setting him free with the ability to pick his target in the net. One stat to tell the tale 10 — Stefan Frei fell a little short of his career high in saves, but the 10 was the most he has ever had in a victory. The Fire didn’t quit in their attempt at a comeback, and Frei didn’t quit performing like one of the best keepers in MLS.<doc-sep>
Full Time: The Chicago Fire came to life in the second half scoring two goals. Seattle needed to find a way to finish the match. It was Raul Ruidiaz that corrected the earlier errors as he and Brad Smith burst out. Their counter-attack put the match out of the way. Smith’s early cross put Raul in on net, with a single touch forcing Ousted to empty the net. It is Raul’s third goal of the year and his eighth consecutive match with a goal. The nervy second half may overshadow memories of the two-goal flurry that started the game and laid the foundation for the 4-2 win, Seattle’s third-straight of 2019 and the first time they’ve opened a season with three wins since 2009. Sounders: 4 (Rodriguez, Morris, Lodeiro, Ruidiaz) Fire: 2 (Edwards, Herbers) UPDATE 49’: In the first 15 minutes of a half the Seattle Sounders are unstoppable. The black-clad men burst out in the second half with the same magic that started the first. Victor Rodriguez but Bastian Schweinsteiger on his butt with an excellent dribble and a single touch later the only thing the Fire could do was take him out in the box. Nicolas Lodeiro stepped to the spot to finish the sequence, chipping the keeper with the shot from the spot. Chicago made two subs by the start of the second half, an indicator that their original plan was completely broken. Sounders: 3 (Rodriguez, Morris, Lodeiro) Fire: 0 UPDATE 15’: It’s the Jordan Morris show in Bridgeview, Illinois. Set back in defense Nicolas Lodeiro picked out a brilliant pass to Morris who was sprinting on goal. Morris used the perfect touch to open space for himself. Jordan was then on goal against the keeper who couldn’t stop the USMNT forward. The delicate chip was the perfect shot after a perfect touch. Sounders: 2 (Morris, Rodriguez) Fire: 0 UPDATE 8’: With a slashing run Jordan Morris established just enough space for a far post cross. His low ball found Victor Rodriguez in stride. V8R slipped the ball home with an easy one touch. Raul Ruidiaz earned the secondary assist. What. A. Start. Morris sets up Rodríguez for the early lead! SEA 1 | CHI 0 #CHIvSEA pic.twitter.com/wqB4KiWItV — Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) March 16, 2019 Sounders: 1 (Rodriguez) Fire: 0 It’s time for coffee, eggs, and the continuing dominance of the Seattle Sounders. Their weekend trip to Chicago offers another chance at victory. The Chicago Fire are recently competent, but also recently bad. Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension Seattle: No one. Fire: Jorge Corrales is suspended. Andre Reynolds II is out. Aleksandar Katai is questionable due to a groin injury. Joseph Dickerson is the center referee. His video assistant is Kevin Stott. nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep this is our Sound Keys to the Game Pounce early. Keep pouncing. Have Cristian trace Djordje Mihailovic. One is World Cup quality and the other is Gold Cup quality. Set-piece defense, as C.J. Sapong can convert. How I'm watching Outfit: NIGHTFALL Scarf: Enemy’s goal is down Where: Home How to Watch Match date/time: Saturday March 16, 2019 at 10 a.m. (that’s early) Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, kind of near Chicago Online Streaming: YouTube TV, ESPN+, Fubo TV (affiliate link) Local English TV: JOEtv (Costigan, Fewing, Zakuani) Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Johnson, Fewing) Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia) Lineups when available Sounders Here is your @Delta Starting XI for #CHIvSEA: Frei Leerdam Kim Marshall Smith Svensson C. Roldan Morris Lodeiro (C) Rodríguez Ruidíaz — Sounders Matchday (@LIVESounders) March 16, 2019 The only change is on the bench where Alex Roldan replaces Will Bruin as Bruin is home with his wife, who is expecting child any day. Fire Highlights will be posted as the match progresses. This is Seattle Sounders at Chicago Fire; watch with us