Preview: No Katai, but the Fire desperate for points

Alex Katai scored an absolute banger against Philadelphia last year in Chicago and is the Fire’s primary long-range shooter.

He’s also suspended Saturday after picking up a red card for throwing ‘bows against Portland Timbers Wednesday night.

Katai’s first half sending off was only one part of an evening that death a major blow to Chicago’s playoff hopes. With only seven rounds left and the three teams just ahead of them holding games in hand, Veljko Paunovic’s team is staring elimination in the face.

But there’s also reason for hope: Two of the Fire’s remaining away matches are at Columbus and Cincinnati, the only two teams in the Eastern Conference below them in the standings. That provides…