MATCH INFO |
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|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (15-10-6, 51 pts.) vs. New York City FC (16-8-7, 55 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Saturday, Sept. 30 • 7:30 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Bridgeview, Ill. • Toyota Park |
<strong>TV</strong> |
CSN Chicago Plus (Pregame: 7 p.m. CT) |
<strong>Spanish Radio</strong> |
<a href="http://stream.uvneng.com/wrtoam-cf"><strong>Univision América 1200 (WRTO)</strong></a> |
The Chicago Fire return home Saturday night having clinched a spot in the 2017 Audi MLS Playoffs with a 4-1 victory in San Jose on Wednesday. They'll welcome New York City FC -- who are headed for the postseason themselves -- for an Eastern Conference clash at Toyota Park (7:30 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago Plus). Positioning now becomes the focus with a first-round bye at stake, as second place NYC lead the Fire by four points entering the weekend. Ahead of what could be a late-season MLS playoff preview, here are a few key facts, faces and figures to keep in mind:
Key number: 21
Chicago have been dominant at Toyota Park this season, amassing an 11-2-2 record to this point in 2017. In New York City FC comes one of the league's best road teams, as evidenced by their 21 points picked up away from home so far this season. That haul is second in MLS only to Eastern Conference leaders and likely Supporters' Shield winners Toronto FC, who have 26. City have won those road matches on the strength of 21 goals scored away from Yankee Stadium, level with Portland and Montreal for the third-highest road mark league-wide. Additionally, Fire forward Nemanja Nikolic will be looking for his 21st goal of the season (and more), after breaking the club's single-season goal record on Wednesday with his 19th and 20th of the year.
Matchup to watch: The Fire central defense vs. David Villa
Because it's David Villa. The 35-year-old remains as dangerous as ever, and is firmly in the running for a second-straight MLS MVP crown having bagged 19 goals and nine assists to this point in 2017. The Spaniard has been working his way back from injury throughout September, but did pick up a 29-minute cameo as a substitution in City's 1-0 win over Montreal on Wednesday. Villa scored once against the Fire already this season, and -- should he see the field on Saturday -- he'll have to be a main focal point for Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, and Joao Meira.
One Big Question: Will Veljko Paunovic continue to rotate his lineup?
On Wednesday night in San Jose, Paunovic deployed a starting XI missing regulars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Juninho due to injury as well as Meira, David Accam and goalkeeper Matt Lampson. The result? Arguably the Fire's most comprehensive road victory of the season, with major contributions from Djordje Mihailovic, Campbell, Michael de Leeuw, and Richard Sanchez. Now, returning from the West Coast on short rest, will Paunovic opt for a more regular starting lineup against an Eastern Conference power or continue to spread out the opportunities ahead of his postseason charge? We'll find out Saturday night.
Sizing Up The Series
The Fire are 1-3-2 all-time in regular season matches against NYCFC, including a 1-1-0 record in matches played at Toyota Park, where their record is 11-2-2 at home this season. In their only other meeting of 2017, these sides last met on July 22nd at Yankee Stadium, a 2-1 victory to the hosts.
Anchoring the NYCFC defensive unit is a familiar face to Fire fans and someone who may need to think twice before heading to the visiting locker room Saturday night, goalkeeper Sean Johnson. A starter in net for the better part of seven seasons with Chicago, Johnson has started 28 games for NYCFC following his offseason trade from the Men In Red, recording six shutouts with a goals against average of 1.21.
NYCFC is under the direction of second-year manager Patrick Vieira, a longtime star midfielder with Arsenal and a 1998 FIFA World Cup champion with France. Vieira and Fire boss Veljko Paunovic each made their MLS head coaching debuts against one another back on March 6, 2016, when NYCFC claimed three points in a wild 4-3 outcome at Toyota Park.
Quote of the Week:
That's midfielder Dax McCarty, who -- having laced up for his 300th career MLS regular season match on Wednesday night -- knows a thing or two about keeping a level head in the approach to a playoff run.
Valspar Matchday Primer:
