5dimes has Real Salt Lake +? -150 or pk +118
should get the tie at least...
Fire face big challenge against Real Salt Lake
Injuries still plague club as defending MLS champion visits
Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos will have to make the best of a limited roster Thursday night as his team hosts defending MLS champs Real Salt Lake. The match will test the mettle of a team that has solidified a hold on fourth in the MLS East but hasn't been able to move up.
It's also the first meeting since Real Salt Lake beat the Fire 1-0 last November in a memorable Eastern Conference championship game decided on penalty kicks.
"We have a very small roster and don't have too much on the bench," de los Cobos said. "We might play with a different shape (Thursday) and play with only one forward. At this moment, we have only Stefan Dimitrov at 100 percent (among forwards)."
Captain Brian McBride is the latest to join a lengthy list of walking wounded.
McBride missed practice Tuesday and de los Cobos said he might have a quad muscle problem, but did not speculate on his playing status.
Forward Patrick Nyarko, meanwhile, is out with concussion symptoms while defender Dasan Robinson is questionable with a hamstring strain.
And forward Collins John remains sidelined after a gastrointestinal affliction forced him to miss the last two games. He resumed training this week, but his return may be two weeks away.
But not all roster news is bleak. At least some Fire players who have missed recent games are close to coming back.
Midfielder Justin Mapp and defender Tim Ward both practiced this week. Midfielder John Thorrington and forward Calen Carr, both afflicted all season by quad injuries, are getting close to their respective season debuts.
"I think (Tim) is very close to return, maybe the next week we can have the opportunity," de los Cobos said. "And Justin is ready.
The game is the first of four straight home games, including next Wednesday's SuperLiga match with Monarcas Morelia.
should get the tie at least...
Fire face big challenge against Real Salt Lake
Injuries still plague club as defending MLS champion visits
Fire coach Carlos de los Cobos will have to make the best of a limited roster Thursday night as his team hosts defending MLS champs Real Salt Lake. The match will test the mettle of a team that has solidified a hold on fourth in the MLS East but hasn't been able to move up.
It's also the first meeting since Real Salt Lake beat the Fire 1-0 last November in a memorable Eastern Conference championship game decided on penalty kicks.
"We have a very small roster and don't have too much on the bench," de los Cobos said. "We might play with a different shape (Thursday) and play with only one forward. At this moment, we have only Stefan Dimitrov at 100 percent (among forwards)."
Captain Brian McBride is the latest to join a lengthy list of walking wounded.
McBride missed practice Tuesday and de los Cobos said he might have a quad muscle problem, but did not speculate on his playing status.
Forward Patrick Nyarko, meanwhile, is out with concussion symptoms while defender Dasan Robinson is questionable with a hamstring strain.
And forward Collins John remains sidelined after a gastrointestinal affliction forced him to miss the last two games. He resumed training this week, but his return may be two weeks away.
But not all roster news is bleak. At least some Fire players who have missed recent games are close to coming back.
Midfielder Justin Mapp and defender Tim Ward both practiced this week. Midfielder John Thorrington and forward Calen Carr, both afflicted all season by quad injuries, are getting close to their respective season debuts.
"I think (Tim) is very close to return, maybe the next week we can have the opportunity," de los Cobos said. "And Justin is ready.
The game is the first of four straight home games, including next Wednesday's SuperLiga match with Monarcas Morelia.
