Philadelphia Union (10-6-6, 1st in East) vs. Chicago Fire (5-9-8, 10th in East)
Sports are meant to be an escape from what troubles us in life, but the Chicago Fire have gone out of their way to make fans more frustrated in the last few weeks. After falling to the bottom team in the West in Sporting Kansas City, they then fell at home to bottom in the league FC Cincinnati and dropped two points against second-from-bottom Columbus at home.
As a result, fans booed the Fire off the pitch (justifiable) and some ever cheered that 90th minute goal by Romario Williams (not justifiable under any circumstance). Have I mentioned that it’s been 420 days since they last won an away match?
Yes, everything is against the Fire these days, some through their own fault. Time to see who the professionals are on this squad, especially against top of the East Philadelphia.
The Union are coming off a 4-0 loss at Real Salt Lake. However, they remain top of the East by a point over a surging DC United. Kacper Przybylko leads the club with nine goals and Jamiro Monteiro and Ilsinho each have four.
The law of missed chances has bitten the Fire so many times this season. As a result, there is a 13-point gap between the sides and nine places even though the Fire have scored just five fewer goals than the Union and allowed just one more. I don’t think I have to say any more besides the fact that the Fire need to get out of the way of themselves. Otherwise, the DOOP song will be playing frequently at Talen Energy Stadium.
Kickoff is at 6:30pm CT on ESPN+.
INJURIES:
PHILADELPHIA UNION:
OUT: Sergio Santos (M) – right high ankle sprain
OUT: Olivier Mbaizo (D) – left knee menisectomy recovery
OUT: Jamiro Monteiro (M) – left high ankle sprain
OUT: Matt Freese (GK) – right quad strain
QUESTIONABLE: Warren Creavalle (M) – right foot fracture
QUESTIONABLE: Kai Wagner (D) – right quad strain
QUESTIONABLE: Ilsinho (M) – left adductor strain
QUESTIONABLE: Michee Ngalina (F) – lower body injury
CHICAGO FIRE:
None
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW:
PHI: Jack Elliott, Alejandro Bedoya, Kei Wagner
CHI: Jorge Corrales
INTERNATIONAL DUTY:
CHI: Djordje Mihailovic (USA)
Referee: Rubiel Vasquez
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Andrew Bigelow
4th Official: Jon Freeman
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
LAST YEAR:
5/30/18: PHI 3-1 CHI
7/11/18: CHI 3-4 PHI
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
