Both the Fire and Red Stars have experienced goal droughts and both have seen a downpour of poor form in recent weeks. Both teams seem to be missing an X-factor that would lift their teams and project a rosier forecast. Now the details:
FIRE: Prior to Saturday’s match, the Fire had scored just two goals in their last 779 minutes of play. It was refreshing to seem them score three goals against a team like the Union, but all three goals were set up and/or scored by defenders. Robert Beric has not scored since the first game of the season and the first three by someone not named Luka Stojanovic. Defending was also a sore point as the Fire allowed another goal off a set piece, a goal before halftime, and then an own goal.
While there were parts of the performance that were encouraging, the Fire are still looking for their second win of the season and there are two more chances to do so during this home stand. The Fire right now lack a consistent striker as well as an X-factor who can give teams problems. Raphael Wicky has come in for a lot of heat, but Georg Heitz’s gamble as continuity would make this squad better has not paid off at all.
RED STARS: Rory Dames called it the most disappointing loss of his time with the Red Stars. That and he said that they do not have a true striker right now. It’s not Mallory Pugh because she’s being relied upon to be the #10. It’s not Kealia Watt or Rachel Hill right now because neither are scoring. It was Sam Kerr, but the Red Stars have done nothing to make people forget about her.
Equally alarming now is that the Red Stars have shipped the most goals thus far in the NWSL with 13 and tied for the second fewest scored with five. Players need to step up with one-third of the season gone if the Red Stars are going to make the playoffs.
