Vancouver Whitecaps (4-5-2, 7th in West) vs. Chicago Fire (1-2-4, 10th in East)
The Chicago Fire are back in action after a ten-day layoff and are in the Pacific Northwest. For those keeping track, the Fire are 1-16-3 in the Pacific Time Zone since 2011, 2-15-7 against the Cascadian sides all-time, and 0-2-0 in Vancouver–outscored 7-3. Of course, there’s the 0-20-9 record in all competitions on the road since July 14, 2014. One more non-victory at BC Place will give the Fire the unwanted record of the longest road winless streak in MLS history at 28 matches.
It will be tough for the Fire who will be again without David Accam and John Goossens due to knee injuries. The former will join the team against New England on Saturday. Khaly Thiam does not have a visa to play in Canada as of yet, so he will join the team in New England as well.
Lead up to Kudo first MLS goal.
Vancouver are coming off a 2-1 win over Portland and new signing Masado Kudo finally opening his account in the win. The Whitecaps are 3-1-2 at BC Place this season just losing the home opener against Montreal. Octavio Rivero has an undisclosed injury and his status is uncertain. Kekuta Manneh comes back after suspension–the fourth courtesy of the MLS Disciplinary Committee on the Whitecaps.
Depth will be very important as the matches and miles rack up over the next 10 days. With the first three on the road, the Fire will search for that first road win in forever and what better place than in a city where they have never won. The Fire did beat the Whitecaps in Portland during the Simple Invitation, 3-2, before the start of the season in February.
Kickoff for the match is at 9pm CT on CSN Chicago Plus.
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo; SAR (bench): Ian Anderson; JAR (opposite): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; 4th: Allen Chapman
INJURY REPORT:
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC — OUT: D-Christian Dean (left foot injury), M-Debyi Flores (right adductor sprain)
CHICAGO FIRE — OUT: M-David Accam (knee sprain), M-John Goossens (knee sprain); QUESTIONABLE: M-Alex Morrell (calf sprain), M-Matt Polster (calf injury)
LAST YEAR:
03/14/15: CHI 0-1 VAN (Rivero 86)
Chicago Fire
Vancouver Whitecaps
