Fire's new Polish connection fails to connect

PALO ALTO, Calif. The Fire tried to showcase its "Polishpunch" Saturday afternoon.

But the immigrant trio of Peter Nowak, JerzyPodbrozny and Roman Kosecki came up empty against the San Jose Clash.

"We didn't play badly," Kosecki said. "We had a lot ofchances in the first half, but their goalkeeper came out big forthem."In his team's fourth regular-season game, Fire coach BobBradley started the three Poles for the first time. Though they allplayed for Legia Warsaw at one time or another, they had playedtogether only as members of Poland's national team.Things figure to be different with the Fire as the seasonprogresses.Nowak, the captain, has started every game and played everyminute.Kosecki, who arrived a day before the first game aftermeeting immigration requirements, started every game but didn'tfinish the first.Podbrozny, also beset with visa problems, arrived an hourbefore the April 4 home opener at Soldier Field.He made his first appearance with 24 minutes of playing timeWednesday at Kansas City and started ahead of Chicagoan Frank KlopasSaturday."We weren't completely happy in Kansas City with our abilityto hold the ball and thought Podbrozny could help us in that regard,"Bradley said."He's not as fit as we need him to be, and part of that isgetting him more playing time."CHANGEABLE: Klopas, who scored two goals in a brilliant homeopener, entered for midfielder Zak Ibsen at the start of the secondhalf in part because Ibsen had a yellow card violation. Podbroznywas pulled in the 71st minute and replaced by Ante Razov.Bradley also altered the back with Francis Okaroh, who satthe last two games, taking over for Andrew Lewis.Okaroh, the New England Revolution's best defender for twoseasons until the Fire claimed him in the expansion draft, arrivedlate for the home opener and didn't play at Kansas City."We still feel Francis is a good defender for us," Bradleysaid. "We felt he and C.J. (Brown) were be a good combination todeal with (San Jose's Ronald) Cerritos."NOTES: WNVR (1030-AM), Chicago's Polish-language radiostation, was to carry its first game Saturday, but its broadcast wascanceled because of technical difficulties.The station is now scheduled to broadcast for the first time atFriday's Soldier Field game against the New York/New JerseyMetroStars.Jorge Campos' arrival remains a mystery to the Fire staff. TheMajor League Soccer office believes the high-profile goalkeeper nowwith the Mexico nationals in World Cup preparation, will arrive intime for Friday's game. His team in Mexico has a friendly onWednesday, and the Fire game on Friday is its first on nationaltelevision (ESPN).The Fire expects to test its permanent home practice site at LakeForest College for the first time on Monday afternoon, but Bradleywants to check the field first.Ronald Cerritos' goal gave San Jose the lead in a game for the firsttime this season. The Clash needed 307 game minutes before leading.