SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs CHICAGO FIRE

Stadium: MCAFEE COLISEUM

Referee: Kevin Stott

San Jose Earthquakes

For San Jose Earthquakes the start of season hasn't been as they expected, as they began with an away defeat 2-0 to LA Galaxy. Match where they appear to have chance to win as LA Galaxy faced many important absences as DF Abel Xavier and FW Carlos Ruiz couldn't play, but in the end they end up loosing and giving the worst possible image.

In the start of the match San Jose scored a goal from a corner kick but it was disallowed because of a offside.

With a game less than others Western Conference teams, San Jose has no points and tails the leader by four points. Still remain to score their first goal as they went scoreless last match. But this match will be their debut on home and they need to show strong here.

The team is composed by experience players and some youth ones. And the more remarkable in this debut season, as San Jose Earthquakes didn't played on the league since two years ago (altought really is new team as last San Jose Earthquakes didn't disappear but was shipped to Houston and rename Dynamo), is that players that where here two years ago are backed, as GK Joe Cannon (who helped win first title), DF Ramiro Corrales and DF Ryan Cochrane. All together with coach Frank Yallop (who guided San Jose to a double victory in MLS Cup) are back.

What seems to be the problem with the team is coordination and understandment between lines. When the team accomplished that it will be more competitive. But that is a result of time playing together ,and this team has barely eight weeks together, tie to this debuting team on the league and it could take a long period before a serie of positive results.

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire come and continues with their last season late sucess where they where able to clinch a spot of playoffs and make a good performance. By the hand of FW Cuauthemoc Blanco the team is unbeaten this season with one match on road and one on home. On first match against RSL accomplished a draw almost in the the end, but in the second match against NE Revolution (helped by a red card to opposite team) they scored almost four goals, with almost all their attacking players scoring at least a goal.

With four points the team reached the second position on the Easter Conference just behind KC Wizards and NE Revolution. But the most remarkable on stats is their defense that is the second best of the league with just one goal allowed in two disputed matches. This makes GK Jon Bush the second best GK in the league for the moment and also this speaks of his good defensive line in front of him.

In front FW Cuauthemoc Blanco and FW Tomasz Frankowski are rocking the scorers table with two goals each one, for an average of one goal per match, and Blanco is the best scorer of the league as he has also provided a goal assist. Together with FW Chad Barret the team is one of the five offensives of the league. And is that isn't enough, FW Chris Rolfe and MF Justin Mapp are also on the team (both with U.S. NT experience), but also this provides a problem as the coach has to elect who to send to the field.

Is to remark that coach Hamltett (season debut) didn't make changes from the team that draw 1-1 with RSL, which speaks he have faith on them and they answer with a great performance against NE Revolution.

Match:

A very fought match as San Jose will like to showed the first match was a mistake and they are competitive for the league, but in front they have a team that is well formed, with good coordination and chemistry between their players.

Prediction:

A one side match for my impression as Chicago Fire has the offensive power and a very good defense in the moment, and San Jose showed just the opposite and also showed lack of understanding and chemistry between their players. Chicago Fire should take a nice result here.

Pick : Chicago Fire
Odds : 1.80
Stake : 9 / 10
Bookmaker : BetInternet
Date : 2008-04-12
Match Result : 0-1
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