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US: MLS Preview- San Jose EarthQuakes v Chicago Fire [Wed Sep 21st, 2005]
San Jose EarthQuakes (15-4-8, 53 pts) v Chicago Fire (14-10-3, 45 pts)
When: 10:30pm EST, Wednesday, September 21st, 2005
Where: Spartan Stadium, San Jose, California
Are the Quakes unbeatable, or are they about due for a loss? Unbeaten in their last ten matches, and still undefeated at home, a road win seems unlikely for Chicago.
With a 2-1 victory over Chivas USA this weekend, combined with a New England loss, San Jose have the league’s best record once again, but how important is that to Dominic Kinnear?
With Danny Califf, Brad Davis, and Kelly Gray all listed as “questionable†for Wednesday, and a second match on Saturday against Dallas, Kinnear is going to have to decide when to start resting a few guys to make sure those“questionables†don’t turn into “outs†with the season coming to a close.
Chris Rolfe’s brace against the Crew on Saturday gave Chicago a little more breathing room in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but they’ll have to do it without him this time as he has a strained groin.
Despite having one of the deeper squads in the league, the Fire are constantly shuffling their lineup due to injury, and this week will be no different. Luckily for them, most of their usual starters are able to go, and Nate Jaqua should see action for the first time since June 29th after bruising an ankle bone. With the east coming down to the wire, the Fire might have caught San Jose at just the right time.
The deciding factor in this match will be whether Dominic Kinnear is going to give some defenders a rest or not. Kinnear is extremely proud of his team’s record at home, as he should be, and resting key defenders like Califf and Gray could make a huge difference against the Fire.
With the ever-struggling Dallas coming to San Jose this weekend, it would be safer to rest players then, but is the midweek match too quick for ailing players? The Quakes have found ways to win all season, why stop believing now?
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