MATCH INFO |
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|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (5-11-8, 23 pts.) at D.C. United (6-8-11, 29 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Saturday, August 27 • 6:00 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Washington D.C. • RFK Stadium |
<strong>TV</strong> |
CSN Chicago Plus (Pregame: 5:30 p.m.) |
<strong>Radio (Spanish)</strong> |
97.5 FM Poder |
The Chicago Fire will look to cap off a busy week with an Eastern Conference win on the road at D.C. United on Saturday night. Match coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago Plus with kickoff to follow at 6 p.m. The Fire are coming off of a 2-2 draw at home to the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night, and will be looking for a second consecutive win away from Toyota Park come opening whistle. With conference positioning at stake, here are five things to keep an eye on ahead of Saturday night:
A busy week
Both the Fire and D.C. are staring down what will be their third match of the week come kickoff on Saturday night. Chicago pulled in four points from their two previous matches after securing the team's first road win in 36 attempts last Saturday in Montreal. They’d return home mid-week with a suitcase full of momentum in tow, but would settle for a point against LA in a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Forward David Accam scored the Fire’s second goal in each match, and upped his season scoring total to seven goals in the process.
Conversely, United have played to consecutive draws in the last six days. D.C. played to a 2-2 stalemate at home to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday before leaving Montreal with a point after a 1-1 affair on Wednesday.
Arshakyan arrives
There will certainly be eyes on the Fire team sheet come Saturday night. Recently acquired forward David Arshakyan has been included among the team’s traveling roster for this weekend’s match in D.C., but it remains to be seen whether he features in the matchday 18-man roster or not. After completing the Visa process, Arshakyan arrived in Chicago during the team’s home match against LA on Wednesday night and participated in his first training session on Thursday morning. According to the Armenian international, his expectations are clear.
“It’s simple,” he said. “I am a striker. I have to score goals, to create chances to score for my teammates. I want to bring the results to this team, so I will be happy and the whole team will be happy if it’s going to happen.”
Controlling the capital
United are currently hanging in sixth-place in the Eastern Conference, a point above Orlando City SC in the final playoff spot. A big reason for their playoff push has been the steady effort of their defense going into Saturday night. As a unit, D.C. has allowed the second-fewest goals in the conference. Their total of 34 conceded is bested only by Toronto FC’s 27 through this point in 2016.
On top of that, goalkeeper Bill Hamid comes into Saturday night’s match off of a stellar performance mid-week in Montreal. The U.S. international’s three saves were modest by box score standards, but the highlights of his performance speak for themselves. Hamid has only appeared in 12 matches for United this season, but his save percentage of 75.5% is a top-five mark in MLS.
Shifting wide
The Fire have been making a few of their own moves defensively in recent matches. The return to health of centerback Joao Meira prior to the Montreal match and his subsequent insertion into central defense has allowed head coach Veljko Paunovic to employ Johan Kappelhof on the right side. Kappelhof, normally half of the “Campbellhof” central tandem with rookie Jonathan Campbell, has enjoyed two solid outings on the outside against some of the league’s top attackers.
“If the coach needs me on the right, I can play there,” he said. “On the ball I can make the right choices and I can see the moments to attack with the team. I think defensively I can win my duals at right back. In the right back position you run more than the central defender position so after the games I was tired, but it’s good for me.”
Kappelhof and the rest of the Fire defense kept Impact attackers well at bay on Saturday night. Forward Didier Drogba’s only two shots on goal came from set pieces, and lethal winger Ignacio Piatti registered just one shot on goal. Additionally, Kappelhof’s six defensive interceptions from the right side were a team-high against LA and his personal highest tally since late May.
#DCvCHI all-time
These two teams have met previously in 2016, a rainy 1-1 draw in Chicago that saw Jonathan Campbell score his first career goal. United owns the all-time head-to-head series with a record of 21-18-14, and has a 4-3-7 record in matches played at Toyota Park.
Saturday’s match could feature a couple former Fire players lined up opposite the Men In Red. Forward Kennedy Igboananike was traded to D.C. from Chicago in July, while winger Patrick Nyarko arrived in the nation’s capital prior to the 2016 season after spending eight years with the Fire. Forward Chris Rolfe also plied his trade with the Fire from 2005-14, while longtime Fire ‘keeper Zach Thornton acts as D.C.’s director of goalkeeping.
