MATCH INFO |
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|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (6-3-3, 21 pts.) vs. FC Dallas (5-1-4, 19 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Thursday, May 25 • 7:30 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Bridgeview, Ill. • Toyota Park |
<strong>TV</strong> |
CSN Chicago (Pregame Show: 7 p.m. CT) |
<strong>Spanish Radio</strong> |
<a href="http://stream.uvneng.com/wrtoam-cf"><strong>Univision América 1200 (WRTO)</strong></a> |
<b>MLS Match Preview</b> |
<a href="https://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2017/05/23/chicago-fire-vs-fc-dallas-2017-mls-match-preview"><b>Projected lineups, injuries, and more</b></a> |
The Chicago Fire return home to Toyota Park on Thursday night to take on FC Dallas in the 2017 edition of the Brimstone Cup rivalry (7:30 pm CT, CSN Chicago | TICKETS). Head coach Veljko Paunovic's side will be riding high after an eight-day span that saw them collect all nine possible points over three games played, culminating in last Saturday's 1-0 victory away at D.C. United. They'll carry that wave of momentum into a clash with FC Dallas, whose nine match unbeaten streak to open their 2017 campaign came to an end against San Jose last weekend. With some early season hardware on the line, here are a few key facts, faces and figures to keep in mind:
Key number: 7
To be fair, part of this number boils down to a sheer lack of games played compared to the rest of the league. However, as it stands, Dallas' seven goals allowed is the league's lowest total, while their goal differential of +7 is among the league's best. Anchored by the tandem of Walker Zimmerman and 2016 MLS Defender of the Year Matt Hedges in central defense, the FCD backline has mostly been a tough nut to crack through their 10 matches played.. In fact, they've only allowed multiple goals on one occasion, a 2-2 home draw with Portland on April 29. Golden Boot leader Nemanja Nikolic has a stiff challenge awaiting him on Thursday night.
Matchup to watch: Kappelhof/Meira vs. Maxi Urruti
Urruti has been the danger man up top for Dallas, having banged in six of the club's 14 goals scored in MLS this season. For the most part, as Urruti goes, so goes the FCD attack. The only other player with more than a single goal scored for the club this season is midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who's picked up three along the way. As the pieces surrounding Urruti have mostly struggled to find their scoring form so far this season -- and with dynamic playmaker Mauro Diaz still sidelined with an Achilles injury -- it'll make shutting down the 26-year-old Argentine that much more of an emphasis for defenders Johan Kappelhof and Joao Meira.
One Big Question: How long can the Fire ride this hot streak?
Boasting three straight wins and led by the MLS Golden Boot leader up top, everything seems to be coming up roses in the Windy City as of late. However, in march the 2016 Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup winners to attempt to derail the hype train in front of the Toyota Park faithful. The Fire will have more to prove collectively than an established Dallas side in Thursday night's battle for the Brimstone Cup, but a fourth-straight win would officially put the rest of the league on notice.
Beasts of the...West?
Part of the Fire's ability to climb all the way to second in the Eastern Conference this season has been their success against Western Conference foes. The Fire already have vanquished three cross-conference sides (Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC and Colorado Rapids) to go along with a road draw at LA (3-0-1). After Thursday night, the Fire will play four straight against their direct competitors in the East before facing their next team from the West, hosting Vancouver on Saturday, July 1.
Quote of the Week:
That's Meira on the set of Wednesday's episode of Fire Weekly presented by The PrivateBank. Any edge a team can get against a side like Dallas is a worthwhile one -- including and especially a mental edge -- and this is a very confident Fire side entering Thursday night's match.
Fire Field Vision powered by NovaCare:
From the media guide:
- The Fire hold a 15-21-4 all-time regular season record against FC Dallas, including a 11-8-2 record in matches played at home. Last year, FC Dallas snapped Chicago's four-match winning streak in the Brimstone Cup series.
- Midfielder Dax McCarty got his professional start with FC Dallas when he was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. McCarty scored five goals and tallied 17 assists in 93 regular season matches from 2006-10.
- Fellow Fire midfielder Arturo Alvarez was McCarty's teammate at FC Dallas, scoring 11 goals and tallying 11 assists in 86 regular season matches from 2005-08.
