The Chicago Fire are back in action on Wednesday night with a visit to Talen Energy Stadium to take on the Philadelphia Union (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+). Ahead of the midweek kickoff, here are five storylines to keep an eye on:
Six-Game Stretch
Wednesday’s meeting in Philadelphia comes four days on the heels of Saturday’s 2-1 win in Orlando over Orlando City SC. That successful road trip kicked off a packed stretch of six matches in 19 days for head coach Veljko Paunovic and his side, four of which are away from Toyota Park.
Following Wednesday’s trip to Philadelphia, the Fire are back home on Saturday, June 2 against San Jose (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+ | TICKETS), begin 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play with a visit to Columbus Crew SC next Wednesday, June 6, return to Toyota Park to host the New England Revolution on Saturday, June 9, then wrap their early summer gauntlet with a trip to the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, June 13.
With a road record of 2-2-1 so far, the Fire have picked up seven points through five matches played away from home this season. Chicago is 2-5-2 all-time in Philadelphia, with the Fire's last road win over the Union coming in a 2-1 victory on August 3, 2013.
Philly’s Form
The Union enter the midweek unbeaten in three straight, most recently having taken a point off of the New York Red Bulls in a 0-0 draw at Red Bull Arena last weekend. Head coach and former Fire standout Jim Curtin’s side are currently a spot above the Fire in the Eastern Conference standings, in seventh place with 15 points and a record of 4-5-3 in 2018. Philadelphia have lost just once at Talen Energy Stadium this season, a 2-0 defeat to Orlando back on April 13.
Midfielder Borek Dockal has spurred the Union attack in recent weeks. The 29-year-old Designated Player has picked up two goals and four assists so far through his first MLS season, a total that includes a goal and three assists in the Union’s last three matches.
Entering the XI
With Paunovic being mindful of player rotation ahead of the Fire’s upcoming match load, Saturday’s win in Orlando marked the MLS debuts for midfielder Daniel Johnson and defender Jorge Corrales, as well as goalkeeper Patrick McLain’s first MLS start since Oct. 23, 2016. Johnson played 74 minutes in the win, while Corrales went the full 90 minutes from the left back position. McLain made five saves en route to a Krakus Man of the Match performance.
The Fire have now had seven players receive their first MLS starts in 2018, as Johnson and Corrales join rookies Grant Lillard, Mo Adams, Diego Campos and Elliot Collier as well as offseason addition Aleksandar Katai.
Injury Update
The Fire injured list remains longer than desired heading into Wednesday night’s match, as captain Dax McCarty (right hamstring), midfielder Jon Bakero (right ankle) and forward Elliot Collier (left gastroc) are listed as out. They join the trio of players currently on longer-term paths to recovery in midfielders Michael de Leeuw (right ACL) and Djordje Mihailovic (left ACL) and defender Matt Polster (MCL).
Forward Luis Solignac is listed as questionable for Wednesday night as he returns to match fitness from a left quad injury.
A Familiar Face
Wednesday marks the first official meeting of the Fire and Philadelphia midfielder David Accam, who spent his first three MLS seasons marauding the touchline in Chicago. From 2015-17, Accam scored 33 goals and tallied 15 assists in 58 regular season matches before being traded to the Union prior to the start of the 2018 season.
Accam has made 12 appearances for the Union in his first season in Philadelphia, and remains in search of his first goal and assist in a Union uniform. Tune in Wednesday night to see how familiarity on both sides plays into the outcome at Talen Energy Stadium.
