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Sporting opens Livestrong Sporting Park vs. visiting Fire

Jun 9, 2011 - 2:20 AM Kansas City, KS (Sports Network) - For Sporting Kansas City, the long wait is finally over.

After opening the 2011 Major League Soccer season with 10 straight road fixtures while waiting for its new soccer-specific stadium - Livestrong Sporting Park - to be completed, Kansas City officially opens its new venue when the Chicago Fire come to town on Thursday night.

Even though Sporting hasn't earned a win since March 19, it has earned back- to-back draws and hopes the return home is what the doctor ordered as far as turning its season around.

"We took a bit of a dip losing a couple games in a row," K.C. goalkeeper Eric Kronberg said. "I think we're finally on our way out of the hole and heading in the right direction. I don't think we're too happy with it, but I think we're happy with where we are going."

The teams 1-6-3 record is currently the worst in the league.

"We could be a lot better obviously, we could have won all 10 games that would be the best thing but that is unrealistic, especially in a league where we have teams that only have two or less wins right now on the road," K.C. coach Peter Vermes said. "The only difference is that they have played a lot of games at home as well. For us right now with a chance to come back home is going to be a good step in the right direction."

The Chicago Fire (1-4-7) only have one win this season as well, and they can't blame their poor record on the an extended road trip, just an extended winless run.

The team is currently winless in 10, including draws in six of its last seven matches. The most recent result was a 0-0 draw vs. Seattle on Saturday.

"We pushed the game and had opportunities," Fire coach Frank Klopas said. "That's been the story for us right now. We always create opportunities, but we've got to finish some of those. On the other hand, some of the things we worked on (such as) giving opportunities for goals didn't happen and that's a positive."

The team feels it is on the verge of a turnaround, and a positive result at Kansas City on Thursday night would go a long way in that regard.

"We know it hasn't been good enough," Fire captain Logan Pause said. "We know we have a long way to go. We also know a couple wins and we're right back in it. We were hoping (vs. Seattle) we'd get the first one and start to get the ball rolling, but I think it was a good start. ... It's exciting with a young group; everyone?s energetic and optimistic and hopefully we'll turn things around."

Chicago will have to find a way to make that happen without the services of midfielders Mike Banner and Marko Maric, and defender Steven Kinney, who are all out with injuries, and attacker Marco Pappa because of international duty. Defender Josip Mikulic is also doubtful with an injury.

Sporting will be without forward Konrad Warzycha, while No. 1 goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen and defenders Seth Sinovic and Kevin Ellis are questionable with knocks. Craig Rocastle, Roger Espinoza, Stephane Auvray and Shavar Thomas are also absent on international duty.