Chicago Fire Setup:
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Frank Klopas’ side continued to show how much they have upgraded in this dominating victory over the Defending MLS Champion Colorado Rapids. The speed in the partnership of Oduro and Nyarko up top was too much for the Colorado back line to handle. Without Marvel Wynne’s speed to cover for the rest of the 3 defenders, Colorado would have conceded quite a few more goals. Nyarko would often drift deep and especially wide to the left to receive the ball and immediately look for Oduro to make a run in behind the defense. Oduro would use his speed to beat the Colorado center back Marshall mostly to get in for a goal scoring chance, or look to pass back to Nyarko for a chance at goal.
Pause lacked width and did not get forward enough, as it could be seen he is more comfortable in a holding role, but that position has been taken up by Pavel Pardo, who had a quite night before being replace at halftime. Pappa played wide right and Grazzini played in the center behind the two strikers, and both looked comfortable with possession and helped the fire to control the ball and linked up well together and with their two strikers.
The Rapids set up in their usual 4-4-2 with recent USA call-up Larentowicz partnering with Mastroeni as the two holding midfielders. Thompson played wide left and played much too far into the center of the field and hurt Colorado’s width in their attack. Mullan played out to the right, and Folan and Nyassi were up top together. Cummings started out on the bench and played briefly in the second half, and his presence was missed. Nyassi was the lone bright spot in the Rapids attack as he was very active in moving around the pitch looking for the ball and when he did have it, he looked to take on defenders and create. Unfortunately for him his teammates looked tired and fatigued from their Champions League match and lacked movement and energy in the final third which was the main cause for Chicago keeping a clean sheet.
Tactical Observations:
- In the 17’ minute, Pavel Pardo played an excellent long ball down the right wing to a streaking Oduro who easily outran the Colorado defender Marshall and slotted one past Perkins to give Chicago 1-0 lead. It was a sign of a long night for Marshall, as he had trouble dealing with Oduro’s speed all night. It was also an excellent ball by Pardo all the way from his holding midfield position.
- Colorado, minus Nyassi, looked content to only look to score from set pieces. They drew many fouls about 30-40 yards in front of their goal that they used like corner kicks from straight on, and they would try and create as many chances for corners as they could.
- Nyarko was often found wide to the left, where he could isolate the Colorado Left Back Kimura 1-on-1. Nyarko owned this matchup and by the end of the match Kimura looked like he had had enough.
- In the 35’minute Grazzini and Pardo worked a nice give and go on the left wing after a long throw was cleared out, and Pardo was able to play in a perfect cross that Gibbs headed in to give the Fire a 2-0 lead they would never see seriously threatened.
- It is obvious that Colorado needs more playmakers, with Casey out for the season and Cummings playing just the last 30 minutes or so, they had no one minus Nyassi who could create a chance for themself or a teammate. Their two wings, Thompson and Mullan, are fine players but neither is dynamic in any facet of the game and did not contribute at all to any major Colorado attacks.
Conclusion:
For a fan who may not be a close follower of MLS, after watching Saturday nights game, if they had been asked which team was the defending MLS champs, they would have said the Fire for sure. They were much more lively, determined, and dangerous than the Rapids. The Rapids may have been tired from their Champions League game midweek, but with the absence of Casey for the season, it seems unlikely that they have enough firepower to repeat as champions.
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Edited by Staff Editor
