Frequent Fire starters Tim Ward and Baggio Husidic were carted off the practice field on Tuesday as coach Carlos de los Cobos put his players through a workout in the rain on the Toyota Park practice field. Husidic was the victim of a tackle from behind and suffered an injury to his right Achilles.
“Timmy’s injury was similar. I hope they’ll return to practice tomorrow,” de los Cobos said.
Other Fire tidbits:
— The Fire hoped to have a player named to the U.S. team’s 30-man roster for next month’s World Cup. It didn’t happen, but U.S. coach Bob Bradley — himself the Fire boss the first five seasons of the franchise — picked two former Fire players in defender Carlos Bocanegra and midfielder DaMarcus Beasley. Bocanegra now playes for Rennes in the French league. Beasley played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and England’s Manchester City immediately after leaving the Fire in 2004. He has most recently played for Glasgow Rangers but has had trouble getting playing time. Beasley, who had two goals in 14 matches for the Scottish club this season, announced this week that he is leaving the Rangers.
— Defensive midfielder Logan Pause was a nominee for MLS goal-of-the-week for his 35-yard blast in a 4-1 loss at Toronto. That was only the second MLS goal in Pause’s eight-season career, the first coming in April, 2007, vs. New England. Pause’s selection marked the fifth straight week that the Fire has had a player nominated for goal-of-the-week.
— Midfielder Justin Mapp, nursing a hamstring injury suffered May 1 vs. Chivas, again watched practice. Calen Carr and John Thorrington remained sidelined with long-term injuries that have kept them out of every game so far.
— The U.S. preliminary World Cup roster included defender Jonathan Spector, who grew up in Arlington Heights. He now plays for West Hamm of the English Premier League. The other 30-man rosters that had to be turned in by World Cup participants brought good news for the Fire. Neither Ronaldinho nor Pato were selected, meaning those long-time World Cup stars will be with AC Milan in an international friendly against the Fire at Toyota Park on May 30.
