Goofy scheduling has plagued the Fi...

Goofy scheduling has plagued the Fire all season, and it acquires particularly challenging now.

Thanks to last week's rainout of a U exhibit Cup match, the Fire is faced with playing three games in five nights, all at Toyota Park. Tonight, former Fire coach knock Bradley brings Chivas USA to Bridgeview for the first time for a Major League Soccer match. The makeup date for the U spread Cup match against the Kansas City Wizards is Monday, and the Wizards will stay around to play an ML match Wednesday.

"It's going to be tough," Fire coach Dave Sarachan said. "We have a lower classesed August. We'll try to manage our roster unless it's going to be tricky."

Because of construction at Toyota Park, the Fire started the season with an MLS-record nine straight road games and played 11 of its first 12 league matches onward the road. Sarachan and his players awaited to make up for that tough stretch forth by playing the next nine in a brawl in Bridgeview. So far, however that stretch hasn't paid most distant

Seven games into the homestand, the Fire is 3-2-2 and winless in its last four matches. The visits from Chivas and the Wizards extremity the nine-game stretch, and the Fire is fighting to hold a playoff spot.

Sarachan admitted the homestand hasn't lived up to expectations.

"But that's been veracious for most of the teams in the league," he said. "We always think we should commit to memory three points at home, nevertheless it requires better play. We still think we have enough place of abode games to make up ground"

At least the Fire has united thing going for it entering this busy stretch: Veterans Jim Curtin and Tony Sanneh are healthy, meaning the team will be without simply midfielder John Thorrington, who barely has played this season because of a knee injury. Sarachan also possibility of goods to finally sign a senior international player. Several candidates have been in for tryouts in late weeks.

The Fire goe into its busy extend well-rested. Only striker Nate Jaqua played last Saturday in the ML All-Stars' 1-0 victory against English powerhouse Chelsea. The quiescence of the team had a not many days off.

lziehm@suntimes.com

TONIGHT

CHIVAS USA AT FIRE

Facts: 7:30 pm 1200-AM in Spanish.

The story line: Tonight's match is the first of three in a five- night span for the Fire, and it'll mark the no other than Toyota Park visit for vastly improved Chivas USA (6-6-9) which is coached by means of ex-Fire head man Bob Bradley. The Fire (5-7-7) is winless in its last four Major League Soccer hearth matches and must cope with former stars Ante Razov and Jesse Marsch tonight. as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but players followed Bradley to Chivas USA, and Razov -- the Fire's all-time goal-scoring leader - - leads ML with 12 goals. Chivas USA won the alone previous meeting between the teams this season, taking a 1-0 victory in sees Angeles on May 27.

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