Back in July, the Fire had visions of winning the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup dancing in their heads.
At the time, there were no reasons not to dream big. Buoyed by a number of high-profile offseason acquisitions, the Fire were in first place in the Eastern Conference, and making the playoffs appeared to be a formality.
Striker Nemanja Nikolic was scoring goals at will, and with the back line healthy and deep, the Fire were headed for a first-round bye in the playoffs, according to Soccer Power Index.
After dropping a frustrating 2-1 loss at home to expansion Minnesota FC on Saturday, the Fire (12-9-5, 41 points) have lost four games in a row and six of seven to tumble to fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Six teams make the playoffs, and the most recent projections give the Fire a 9 percent chance for a first-round bye.
Before hosting the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United, the Fire play at the Montreal Impact for the second time in less than three weeks on Saturday. Montreal, which defeated the Fire 3-0 on Aug. 16, is one of three teams within Five points of the Fire in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Fire coach Veljko Paunovic, at least publicly, has remained upbeat throughout the skid, calling the bump in the road a part of a long season.
“(What) we need now, we need toughness,” Paunovic said. “We need guys who understand the situation and who can go through all of this because definitely we are a good team. We did well so far in the season. We have this setback right now, but it’s the moment for the reaction.
“It’s the moment and opportunity against Montreal to prove our character and our identity. There is nothing else to do. Just work, work, work. Stick together. Believe and wait for the opportunity to win the game. … (The coaches) have to make the guys understand that we are actually a good team. We are.”
The Fire are 1-6-1 in the last eight games and have been outscored 11-3 in their four-game losing streak despite David Accam scoring a goal in each of the last two games .
Scoring slumps are common for strikers, but with Nikolic’s goalless streak reaching eight straight games, Paunovic admitted the Fire’s slide can be partly attributed to opposing defenses adapting to Nikolic’s style and tendencies.
Even so, Nikolic is tied for second in the MLS with 16 goals.
“He’s practicing and working on that,” Paunovic said, pointing to Nikolic during Tuesday’s practice. “That’s the only thing you can do. You can get back to the fundamentals on the simple things, get sharp and focused. To get back to the winning track needs work and belief, so I think that’s what he’s doing now and everyone else. We’ll fix it.”
Missing McCarty: Midfielder Dax McCarty will miss Saturday’s game after being selected to the U.S. national team’s 26-man roster for training camp in New Jersey. The national team will play Costa Rica on Friday and Honduras on Tuesday in the World Cup qualifiers. The United States is 2-0-2 and in third place in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
With the Fire struggling to score goals and win games, the loss of McCarty, acquired from the New York Red Bulls in the offseason, is a big blow. McCarty’s contract has club options in 2018 and 2019, and the Fire, can’t stop McCarty from playing with the national team because of national team games listed as official FIFA dates, Fire officials told the Tribune.
McCarty missed four weeks earlier this summer after competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Two weeks ago, Nikolic announced he would stick with the Fire instead of joining Hungary for the qualifying matches.
McCarty left a parting message for his teammates after Saturday’s loss.
“We’ve always had a sense of urgency, but clearly now with the way things have gone the past couple of games,” McCarty said, “I think that needs to be ramped up to another level. The playoffs are certainly not a certainty right now.”
Corner kicks: Recent acquisition Christian Dean’s injury problems are back. Hampered by knee and foot injuries over the last two seasons, Dean, a defender, is out for the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with a fracture in his left foot metatarsal fracture. Dean is set to have surgery Friday. … Defender Brandon Vincent (quad) returned to practice this week. Vincent has missed the last seven games. … Defender Matt Polster (knee) sat out the last three games but is slated to play against Montreal.
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Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.