Chicago (1-0-1) at San Jose (0-1-0), 4:30 p.m.

Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - San Jose coach Frank Yallop and his players sounded like a broken record after the club's loss in its first match in Major League Soccer since 2005.

"We still have a ways to go," Yallop said.

"It's a learning process," goalie Joe Cannon said.

"We've got a long way to go," defender Ryan Cochrane said.

San Jose, back in the league after a two-year absence, has experienced players - the starting lineup in the 2-0 loss to Los Angeles had 1,119 combined league appearances - but struggled in its season opener.

That's not too much of a surprise, especially for a club that doesn't resemble San Jose's championship teams from 2001 and 2003.

But after working though the "nerves," Cochrane said, of the team's opener at The Home Depot Center against L.A. and David Beckham, San Jose needs to regain its focus.

The Earthquakes (0-0-1), one of only two teams in the league without a point, host the Chicago Fire (1-1-0) at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday in a rematch of the '03 MLS Cup.

San Jose won that MLS Cup, 4-2, for the last of its two titles. The franchise moved to Houston for the 2006 season and the Dynamo have won back-to-back MLS Cups.

Yallop believes San Jose proved in its opener "we aren't a bad team," but he also realized there's a lot of work to do.

"We didn't start well and played better in the second half," Cochrane said.

The worst part for San Jose was its performance on defense, something Yallop hoped would be the team's strength this season.

Beckham and Landon Donovan each scored in the first half for L.A. and by the time San Jose settled down, it was too late.

"For us, it's definitely a learning process," Cannon said. "Defensively we did all right. Maybe a C-plus, B-minus, but we can do better and we will."

Chicago, led by Mexican icon Cuauhtemoc Blanco, will definitely provide a good test this weekend.

The Fire got a last-second goal from Blanco to tie their season opener against Real Salt Lake, 1-1, and rolled to a 4-0 victory over New England last week.

Polish striker Tomasz Frankowski, who is probable with a hamstring strain, had his first two goals for the Fire. Chad Barrett and Blanco also scored goals in the win over New England.

New coach Denis Hamlett didn't even use forward Andy Herron, who was acquired before the season, but thinks it's an advantage to have so many options.

"We have tough decisions to make every week," Hamlett said. "We have so many options. It keeps the guys on top of their game. It really depends on who is gelling well."

Hamlett doesn't have as many options defensively - partly because of injuries - but the only goal Chicago's allowed so far was an own goal against Real Salt Lake.

Veterans Gonzalo Segares, Brandon Prideaux and Diego Gutierrez and second-year defender Bakary Soumare have started the first two games on defense.

Soumare, who scored the own goal, has played well back in his natural position after spending time in midfield last season.

"When we drafted Baky, we knew he was a center back, but given our situation last year, we had to play him at midfield," Hamlett said. "It was a learning curve for him. This season, with (veteran) C.J. Brown being out and Dasan (Robinson) out, we felt we had a guy ready to play in their place."