What should be made of the Miami Fusion, the Fire’s opponent in Saturday evening’s home opener at Soldier Field?
The Fusion (1-0-3) is the only unbeaten team in Major League Soccer. Yet despite playing its first four games at home, the Fusion only has one win.
And a team that figured to light up the scoreboard in goals scored and goals allowed has been futile in scoring and stingy in allowing.
“The team is shaping up to be a good team,” said Fusion defender Francis Okaroh, a former member of the Fire. “We are hoping the offense comes around and starts scoring some goals.”
Miami has just four goals in four games, despite the presence of Roy Lassiter, Eric Wynalda, Diego Serna and Andy Williams.
The Fusion was expected to struggle on defense, but in the first four games Miami has allowed a league-low two goals and is coming off consecutive 0-0 draws.
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“[Okaroh] helps solidify things in the back for them,” Fire coach Bob Bradley said. “He’s still a good defender.”
Okaroh is looking forward to his first appearance at Soldier Field as an opponent.
“We will have our hands full with a good Chicago team,” he said. “[Fire forward] Ante Razov and I will meet a few times Saturday. I’m looking forward to meeting my old team. It should be a good game.”
Zach Thornton, who missed the first four games with a calf injury, will make his 2000 debut in goal for the Fire (1-3-0).
“Zach has worked very hard and made a lot of progress,” Bradley said.
“The [sharpness] will come just by him getting in games.”
First-round draft pick Carlos Bocanegra, who has been out with an abdominal injury, also is likely to make his debut after playing with the Project-40 team last week.
Bradley has yet to decide if Bocanegra will start in the spot vacated by Andrew Lewis, who was suspended for Saturday’s match after receiving a red-card ejection last week in D.C.
The Fire may catch a break with the weather: Saturday’s forecast calls for the warmest day of the year, with temperatures in the 80s. That should make for a comfortable evening by kickoff. The temperature for last season’s home opener was 48 degrees at kickoff.
Also, Friday, the Fire acquired former U.S. national team midfielder Mike Sorber from the New England Revolution. Sorber was waived by the MetroStars in February and claimed by New England in Friday’s waiver draft. The Revolution then dealt Sorber to the Fire for a fourth-round draft pick in 2001.