BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Frustration in Chicago? Understandable. Unavoidable even.
Three disappointing defeats on the bounce at the LA Galaxy, at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps and on the road to the San Jose Earthquakes leave the Fire rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference table and the only team in MLS without a point.
A victory against Jim Curtin’s Philadelphia Union (Sunday at 5 pm ET, ESPN2), 0-1-2 themselves after a slow start, would help reignite the Fire’s season and kickstart Frank Yallop’s second year at the helm.
“No one likes to lose games, obviously, it’s frustrating and there’s a feeling as though a couple of bounces haven’t gone our way,” Quincy Amarikwa told reporters at Toyota Park this week.
“But in terms of the overall morale of the team, it’s still very high and guys know that we’re doing the right things. Each game has been an improvement in performance from the team overall, so from that standpoint you realize if you do the right things long enough you’re going to find success. Obviously, we’d like that to come sooner, but I think what we’re doing is going to result in more wins.”
Amarikwa, last season’s top scorer with eight goals, has been an ever-present up top in the opening three games in spite of the influx of several new attacking options. And with David Accam and Shaun Maloney both on international duty, and Kennedy Igboananike and Guly do Prado struggling for minutes, it’s expected the goal-scoring responsibility will again rest at the 27-year-old’s feet.
“Whatever role is necessary for me, I just want to play the game,” he said. “So if I’m up top by myself or if there’s five of us up top, as long as I’m in there, I don’t really mind.
“At the end of the day it’s a process. Everyone would love to put two people together, no matter who it is, and there to be instant chemistry that translates into goals, but that’s something that develops over time, especially with a strike partnership.”
Amarikwa showed visible signs of frustration when he was replaced by do Prado in the 74th minute of the 2-1 loss at San Jose, but jokingly put that down to “thinking about a game of FIFA I lost the day before.”
However, should the Fire suffer yet another defeat, jokes will be the last thing on anyone’s mind.
“It’s a long season, three games in we’d love to have points or some wins to show for it, but I think each game has gotten progressively better, especially from a team standpoint,” Amarikwa stressed. “Hopefully we can turn that into a win this weekend, but more importantly, carry that into the rest of the season.”
