THOUGHTS ON THE FIRE: Three successive clean sheets and seven points from the last three matches will lift the hopes of the Fire. The defense, especially Jorge Corrales, has righted itself in the last three matches. The trade for Francisco Calvo already looks genius for the moment. Johan Kappelhof is adjusting well to being a right back while Calvo and Bastian Schweinsteiger man central defense.
It’s not all roses, though, as Nico Gaitan left the Minnesota match after 33 minutes due to a pulled hamstring. He will miss the match on Saturday at San Jose (2:30pm, Univision), so it will likely be up to Djordje Mihailovic, Przemyslaw Frankowski, and Aleksandar Katai to be the creative force in attack for the time being.
THOUGHTS ON THE RED STARS: Last Sunday’s match between the Red Stars and North Carolina would ultimately come down to who had the better depth with both teams missing four US National Team players. The Courage wished Sam Kerr would join Australia earlier than she will be (after Sunday) as she scored twice while Michele Vasconcelos is re-establishing herself in the lineup with a goal of her own.
Sam Kerr will join the Matildas after Sunday’s match at Houston (5pm CT, NBCS-CHI), but Yuki Nagasato will not be joining Japan and she, Vasconcelos, and Katie Johnson will be the ones to watch in attack for the Red Stars along with Vanessa DiBernardo deputizing as captain.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Both the Fire and Red Stars had a Player of the Week, last week. Nico Gaitan won it in MLS for his two goals and two assists in the last two games against New England and Minnesota.
Sam Kerr won MLS Player of the Week for her two goals against North Carolina as well as an assist on Vasconcelos’s goal in the 3-1 win on Sunday.
Chicago Fire
