From lessons learned to points earned? SDFC faces Chicago Fire
Cedric Jones/ EVT Sports
The sun shone bright over the Sharp Healthcare Performance Training Center in East San Diego this Thursday, July 10.
San Diego FC just finished training; the players are drenched with sweat, walking inside to get some much-needed shade and AC. Head coach Mikey Varas stopped by to answer questions from media with a focused look on his face.
Chicago looms. A team that is currently in 9th place in the Eastern Division and has lost three of its last five matches.
Oddly enough, this is a similar situation to the Houston Dynamo, who had the same record over their last five games before playing San Diego.
Familiar Faces, Strategies
Varas knows that his team needs to be ultra-focused after a tough lesson last weekend. “They’ll be well organized, they’ll be well trained, they’ll have their ideas really clear”, said the SDFC head coach. The Chicago Fire are in a transition period. Legendary head coach Gregg Berhalter was brought in to right the ship after a disastrous 2024 season when the Fire finished dead last in the Eastern Conference standings, losing 18 games.
A well-executed game plan can catch San Diego off guard, much like Houston, which pressed high with intensity right after the first whistle. Perhaps this time, SDFC may be better prepared. Head coach Mikey Varas brings firsthand insight into what to expect from a Berhalter-led system, having served as an assistant on Berhalter’s U.S. Men’s National Team staff from August 2023 until July 2024.
Plus One, Minus One
Luca de la Torre’s return to the squad this week was met with plenty of excitement. The U.S. International midfielder will boost much-needed creativity in the midfield. Unfortunately, it’s not all smiles on the training ground.
Varas announced to the media on Thursday that Anibal Godoy will not be traveling with the team due to feeling “a little bit of sensation in his leg” after the Panama International duty. He emphasized that the team is not treating it as an injury but rather giving Godoy time to recover. “The long-term, having as many guys as possible is by far the most important thing”, Varas said.
As a result, Onni Valakari is expected to retain his midfield role, lining up alongside captain Jeppe Tverskov and the returning Luca de la Torre. Valakari’s ability to play in different roles is invaluable to the club at the moment, as challenges with depth arise due to injuries.
Attempts to Reignite the Fire
The Chicago Fire are certainly seeing success as compared to last season, when they hit rock bottom. The starting eleven contains arguably one of the most talented front fours in the league.
Hugo Cuypers, who plays the nine, scored 11 times in 19 appearances for the squad. Wingers Jonathan Bamba and Philip Zinckernagel each have eight assists on the season. Last but not least, Brian Gutierrez plays a left midfielder role and has an uncanny ability to sneak into tight spaces. This helped him notch seven goals this season as he remains a dangerous outlet for the Chicago side.
Chicago’s scoring success limited the team’s ability to climb in the standings due to their lack of defending. While the Fire scored 39 goals (T-2 in the East), they’ve also allowed 36, which is the fourth highest in the Eastern Standings.
Keys to Success vs Chicago Fire
SDFC matches up well with a poor defense, as they have not had trouble scoring goals. In their last five games, San Diego netted 17 goals and comes into this match as the top goal-scoring team in the MLS (44).
San Diego has to be mindful of the front four and be good in transitional defense. Too much individual play led SDFC astray from their core values of playing as a unit. Expect San Diego to get back to their basics, playing a rigid 4-3-3 formation with clearly defined roles. It remains to be seen how the players respond to the loss against Houston and the lessons learned from that game.
Chicago’s participation in the U.S Open Cup saw them play against Minnesota last Tuesday. The Fire were eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing 3-1 in extra time. San Diego FC must capitalize on a full week’s rest by outpacing and outworking the Fire, while maintaining possession to force Chicago to chase the ball.
All Eyes on Saturday
After the loss against Houston, Varas emphasized, “It was too clearly not collective tonight.” It must be a collective performance in Chicago if San Diego wants to get back on track and achieve great things in the near future. With both squads possessing the ability to score many goals, surely an entertaining match awaits.
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Dmitry Anisimov is a San Diego native who played soccer up to the college level when he represented the SDSU Men’s Club Soccer team. Growing up in San Diego, Dmitry is a fan of all the home teams but he specifically couldn’t wait until San Diego got an MLS team. Once that dream became reality, Dmitry married his love for writing and the game of soccer to portray a voice of the San Diego soccer community. There is a deep-rooted love of soccer culture in San Diego and Dmitry hopes to bring it to light through his pre and post-game coverage of all things San Diego FC.