The Chicago Fire are off to their to their best start in team history, wining five of their first seven games, losing only one and drawing the other. Their seemingly impenetrable defense has given up just three goals in those seven games, one of which was an own goal against Toronto FC, and surrendered only one goal in four road games.
The Fire handled slumping D.C. United in a 2-0 victory Thursday night, squandering just a few quality opportunities against the defending Supporter's Shield winners on a wet field at RFK Stadium.
To a man, they speak consistently about the team philosophy and commitment to defending that starts from the front and has been stopping abruptly at the back for most teams.
"It's our team mentality," said Chicago coach Denis Hamlett. "We work hard in training and guys are competitors. It's not just the back five (including the goalkeeper), it starts with our forwards who are working hard and chasing and making the plays. When you see the commitment by the whole group, it is satisfying when you can see that."
Terms like "commitment" and "team" were the common threads shared among Fire players in the jubilant locker room, with all of them always mentioning teammates specifically by name.
"It's simple -- it's a team effort defending," echoed goalkeeper Jon Busch. "From the front to the back, guys are busting their tales to get back. Chad Barrett has been unbelievable this year; his work ethic, chasing guys around. The outside middies, Justin Mapp on one side and Chris Rolfe on the other, these guys are unbelievable going forward, but they are putting the dirty work in coming back. From the front to the back, it's a total team commitment to defending and that's why we are going on the road and getting three points."
"We have a very workmanlike team," said former United defender Brandon Prideaux. "Guys really put their work in and you can see it every game. Guys are busting their butts to get back and it starts up top, then through the midfield and us guys in the back just clean it up. We have been defending really well as a team and that has been the key to our success.
"We've got 11 guys that are committed and are willing to make that extra run for each other and willing to track back and stay with their runners, willing to do the dirty work per se, and that's what it takes to win. We are a tough team to beat when we everyone is committed to defending."
"We got 11 guys on the field and an entire bench that puts it all out there," Logan Pause added. "We are a very competitive group; hard working group, an honest, simple team. It starts up top with our forwards and it trickles back. You see guys like Chad Barrett, Cuauhtemoc (Blanco), Justin Mapp, Chris Rolfe that do all of the dirty running and the guys in the back have been doing a phenomenal job and obviously Jon Busch in goal."
"We are all committed to the same cause," continued Rolfe. "We bring a lot of our guys back and even the guys up top, Chad and Cuauhtemoc, working as the first line of defense. We are all committed to working hard and playing that way."
Hamlett has used a five-midfielder formation for the last two matches, dropping Rolfe deeper into the midfield for an extra layer of defending, giving the Fire the diversity to attack from different angles while leaving Barrett to roam alone up front.
That tactic was successfully employed by Hamlett's predecessor, Juan Carlos Osorio, a year ago when the Fire dusted United in their first-round MLS Cup playoff series 3-2 on aggregate after taking a 1-0 lead at home in the first leg.
In recent years, the Fire have been the league's most successful team against United, especially at RFK Stadium. Chicago has lost only one of its last eight games to United, including the playoffs and U.S Open Cup competitions. United's 3-1 win at home on June 16, 2007 was their last win against the Fire and was the last game for then Fire coach Dave Sarachan, who was subsequently replaced by Osorio.
"We know whenever we play D.C. its going to be a good game because we respect them and what they have done throughout the history of the league," said Hamlett, who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and played his collegiate soccer at George Mason. "They have good players, so we always look forward to coming here. They have a great crowd and our guys get up for the game."
"It's the mentality we bring here," added Rolfe. "When we come here we know it's going to be a tough game and we prepare for it. It's a good feeling when we get here; we know we are in for a game, we know we are going to have to compete and we like that."
"In this league you gotta come to play every week," Busch said. "You gotta bring the intensity. Nobody is that much better than anyone else where you can just show up and win a game, especially coming in here to D.C. They are always intense and they play well at home. We had to match their intensity and get through the first 15, 20 minutes of each half and then it (the game) can settle down and we can play a little bit and we are bringing that and that's because everyone is committed to this team."
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