SB Nation - Guillermo Franco

Ohio native Chris Rolfe bags brace as Chicago Fire down Columbus Crew

James Coston — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 04:09:05 -0000

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Chris Rolfe apparently doesn't like the MLS team in his home state.

The Chicago Fire striker and Kettering, Ohio native scored two goals just minutes apart as they came from behind to defeat the Columbus Crew 2-1 in front of a near sell-out crowd of 19,172 at Toyota Park. The win was the club's fourth straight; their longest streak of the season.

Is there a reason that Rolfe does so well against the Crew?

"They didn't draft me," said Rolfe jokingly after the match. "They had a couple of rounds to draft me, so that's the way it is."

Rolfe, whom the Fire initially drafted in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft, left the club after the 2009 season to join Danish club Aalborg BK. He rejoined the Fire this past April, and after the two goals on Saturday night, he now has eight on the season.

The Men in Red have now won seven of their last eight MLS matches and have 53 points on the season. Of those last seven wins, four of those have involved a comeback. That's something Rolfe said the team is aware of.

"I think that’s something we’ve kind of done a lot this year," said Rolfe about giving up the early goals. "We seem to start out decent in the game and then give up a goal and then we respond to that. That’s something we’re going to have to fix, but it’s still a good thing that we’re able to come back from that."

And indeed, after some lively play from both sides to open the match, it was the away team who struck first off a Sean Johnson howler.

Off a back pass from left back Gonzalo Segares, the Fire ‘keeper Johnson looked to pass it back to the Costa Rican international. Crew forward Jairo Arrieta, however, was able to jump in front on the pass and then round Johnson to put the ball into the net past a desperately sliding Arne Friedrich and give the visitors the advantage in the 15th minute.

The Fire wouldn't be down for long though.

Moments later, midfielder Logan Pause was able to get the ball to striker Sherjill MacDonald down the left flank. MacDonald then found Rolfe with a beautiful through ball that left him one-on-one with Crew ‘keeper Andy Gruenebaum. The 29-year-old made no mistakes as his shot found the bottom left corner of the net to put the match on level terms in the 23rd minute.

And Rolfe wasn't done yet.

Three minutes later, winger Patrick Nyarko got the ball near midfielder was able to take it all the way to the edge of the box before picking out Rolfe. He then earned himself a 26th minute brace with a wonderful chip past Gruenebaum and into the top right corner of the net to give the Fire the lead.

The Crew had some opportunities late, but Johnson was solid after the early miscue, and finished the night with five saves in the victory.

"You upset yourself when you give up a pass out of the back and it turns into a goal," said Johnson after the game. "But I think that going forward, you just do your best to keep your team in the game and that's what I was called upon to do at that point in time."

One of Johnson's teammates said they were supportive of their goalkeeper even after the early mistake.

"For me, it's very important how you react as a team," said Fire defender Arne Friedrich. "Mistakes always happen in the game and great players usually show a very good reaction as he did today, and he made a couple saves today, and this makes clear in a very good way that he's confident and this is what we need."

Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas said he was happy with the team's performance in that they were able to defeat a team that's not only a rival, but is also playing strong down the stretch.

"It's a team that's just like us where they're fighting to make the playoffs," said Klopas in his post-match press conference. "Matches like this are, where the rivalry has been there, so the exciting part is that we were at home and there was a lot on the line with every game and I think the players thrive on that."

Notes

The Fire have now won four straight against conference rivals and currently sit alone in second place in the Eastern Conference with 53 points. Following a loss to DC United in late August, the Men in Red reeled off wins against the Houston Dynamo, Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact before tonight's three point performance.

La Maquina Roja named an unchanged Starting XI from their 3-1 win over the Impact last Saturday.

Vice-Captain Pavel Pardo was again unavailable for the match. The defensive midfielder missed last week's match with hamstring tightness and it appears he is not yet fully recovered. After the match, Klopas said the club is proceeding with caution as far as a return date is concerned.

Midfielder Daniel Paladini was named to the bench after missing the last two matches with a right calf injury. He made an appearance in the 78^th minute, coming on for MacDonald as the Fire looked to hold on to the lead.

The Fire received an attacking boost when it was confirmed that new striker Guillermo Franco received his visa and would be eligible for Saturday night's match. He was named to the substitute's bench, but did not see action. Franco signed with the club on September 14.

The Fire were without right back Dan Gargan as he was suspended due to yellow card accumulation. He will be available when the Fire are next in action on Friday.

The Crew came in looking to continue their quest for a playoff berth. They needed some last-minute heroics on Wednesday to knock off Chivas USA 1-0. They now play host to the Philadelphia Union next Saturday.

The Fire are next in action when they travel to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park to take on Sporting Kansas City on Friday evening. With a win, the Fire would move into first place in the Eastern Conference. That match will be nationally televised on the NBC Sports Network.

Lineups

Chicago Fire

Starting XI: Johnson (Y: '89); Anibaba, Friedrich, Berry, Segares; Fernandez, Pause (C) (A: '23), Alex (Sub: '89 for Thompson), Nyarko (A: '26); Rolfe (G: '23, '26) (Sub: '84 for Oduro), MacDonald (A: '23) (Sub: '78 for Paladini)

Substitutes: Nolly, Videira, Thompson (Sub: '89 for Alex), Bone, Paladini (Sub: '78 for MacDonald), Oduro (Sub: '84 for Rolfe), Franco

Columbus Crew

Starting XI: Gruenebaum; Miranda (Sub: '81 for Vargas), Marshall, James, Williams; Renteria (Y: '35) (Sub: '60 for Tchani), O'Rourke (Y: '28), Mirosevic, Gaven (Sub: '69 for Meram); Higuaín, Arrieta (G: '15)

Substitutes: Lampson, Vukovic, Birchall, Gehrig, Tchani (Sub: '69 for Renteria), Meram (Sub: '69 for Gaven), Vargas (Sub: '81 for Miranda)

Attendance: 19,172

Referee: Michael Kennedy

Major Link Soccer: Comeback Edition

olysounder — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:03:11 -0000

Clint Dempsey made his debut for Tottenham in their 3-1 victory over Reading. Deuce fittingly chose to wear the No. 2 shirt for the Spurs--even though the No. 9 is available.

Although his performance for the USMNT was less than stellar, Jozy Altidore continued his good form for AZ Alkmaar by scoring a hat trick as they hammered Roda JC 4-0. The hat trick raises Jozy's early season total to seven goals for AZ Alkmaar.

The Chicago Fire have confirmed that Guillermo Franco has signed a deal with the team prior to the roster freeze. The 35-year-old forward, born in Argentine but capped at the international level by Mexico, has played in Argentina, Spain, Mexico, and England during his career.

MLS weekend recap after the jump:

C.J. Sapong scored a stoppage time equalizer to salvage a point for Sporting Kansas City against the Houston Dynamo on Friday night. Brad Davis put the Dynamo ahead in the 58th minute, but Houston was unable to hang on for the win.

The LA Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at The Home Depot Center, pulling even with Real Salt Lake. The match saw the debut of Christian Wilhelmsson who scored an insurance goal in the 58th minute. Robbie Keane opened the scoring in the 15th minute.

In a match where the Philadelphia Union controlled 63% of the possession, they still needed an equalizer in the 85th minute from Sheanon Williams to split the points with lowly Toronto FC. Eric Hassli opened the scoring for Toronto in the 58th minute. The teams are currently sitting in 9th and 10th positions in the East.

Although the Columbus Crew opened the scoring early, two goals from Thierry Henry book-ended a strike by Dax McCarty as the New York Red Bulls were 3-1 victors in New Jersey. After a strong run of results, the Crew have now dropped their last two.

D.C. United showed they can win without Dwayne De Rosario as they were 2-1 victors over the New England Revolution on Saturday. New England went ahead early through Kelyn Rowe but goals from Chris Pontius and Lewis Neal took the points for DC. With the win, D.C. put themselves into the final playoff spot in the East.

Continuing the trend, the Chicago Fire managed to comeback and beat the Montreal Impact 3-1 after the Impact went ahead early through Marco Di Vaio. Sherjill MacDonald, Alex, and former Sounder Alvaro Fernandez scored for the Fire. Montreal is rapidly falling out of the playoff picture in the East as Chicago sits comfortably in second place.

A dramatic 96th minute winner from Julian de Guzman took the points for FC Dallas as the Vancouver Whitecaps continue to struggle mightily. Although the Caps are currently hanging on to the final playoff spot in the West, they have now lost their last five games in a stretch where they have scored just a single goal.

The San Jose Earthquakes strengthened their position atop the Supporters Shield standings with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center. Chris Wondolowski converted a penalty and Alan Gordon scored from the run of play as the Quakes continue to roll.

But wait there's more

In MLS - The LA Galaxy are being sued over shorting an agency who recommended Robbie Keane. Real Salt Lake went and acquired a bench player from Atletico Madrid just prior to the Roster Freeze. The league has a non-discrimination, don't take the insults too far campaign.

While the Olympics get the most money for a "single" event, soccer still rules the roost when it comes to which sports drives fans to spend money on product sponsors. It's no surprise that the Sounders are maximizing their efforts along those lines.

Welcome the Arlington Aviators to the PASL indoor soccer league.

Lastly, this is big news as it looks like their will be an internal CONCACAF conflict as Canada is already pursuing the 2026 World Cup and Mexico just announced that they will be doing the same. Will the USA also enter that contest or pick which of their NAFTA neighbors to support instead?

Chicago Fire Sign Guillermo Franco

Tweed Thornton — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:59:56 -0000

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Friday that the club has signed Guillermo Franco on a free transfer. The two-time World Cup veteran and Mexican international will join the side immediately. He's unlikely to play this weekend but Franco fans should mark their calendar for Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 10:00 a.m. CT. as the Fire take on FC Dallas in MLS Reserve League action at Toyota Park.

"We're happy to add a talented player like Guillermo to our team," said Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas. "He has a wealth of international playing experience and will be a great asset as we look to strengthen our squad for a potential MLS Cup Playoff run."

More thoughts and official language after the break.

Franco joins the Fire from Liga MX side Pachuca where he made 12 appearances in 2012. The Corrientes, Argentina product began his career with Argentine Primera División side San Lorenzo in 1995. Yes, you could say he has been around for awhile. The 35 year-old is far off from his days as a semi-regular on Mexico's National Team. The cons to this deal are that Franco failed to score in his 12 appearances for Pachuca last season.

The positives are that the veteran striker isn't being brought in to be a starter. Chicago still has 2 open international slots. The Fire won't be paying Franco all that much money. There's still room on the roster after this signing. Frank Klopas is only playing three forwards right now: Chris Rolfe, Sherjill MacDonald, and Dominic Oduro. Franco adds some depth and comes with veteran experience. This signing will make some headlines in Mexico and around the world. This is a nice low-risk, medium reward scenario.

Franco became a naturalized Mexican citizen in 2004 and made his national team debut in 2005. Franco scored eight times in 25 appearances for El Tri, and represented Mexico in both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. Franco becomes the fourth player on the Fire roster with FIFA World Cup experience. Since Franco was sitting around and willing to play for not much money, why not?

Name: Guillermo Franco

Position: Forward

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 168 lbs.

Date of Birth: November 3, 1976

Place of Birth: Corrientes, Argentina

Hometown: Corrientes, Argentina

Citizenship: Mexico

How Acquired: Signed on a free transfer on Sept. 14