MATCH INFO |
|
|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (3-8-5, 14 pts.) vs. Sporting Kansas City (8-8-4, 28 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Wednesday, July 13 • 7:30 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Bridgeview, Ill. • Toyota Park |
<strong>TV</strong> |
CSN Chicago (Pregame: 7 p.m.) |
<strong>TV (Spanish)</strong> |
CSN Plus |
<strong>Radio</strong> |
97.5 FM Poder (Spanish) |
<strong>Fire Field Vision</strong> |
<a href="//www.chicago-fire.com/post/2016/07/12/fire-field-vision-powered-novacare-chivskc?autoplay=true"><strong>Watch Now</strong></a> |
The Chicago Fire return home to host Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night. Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. on CSN Chicago with kickoff to follow at 7:30. Below are five storylines to keep an eye on as the Fire look to cool off a suddenly resurgent Sporting side.
Transitioning from Toronto
The Fire return home Wednesday night after a road trip to Canada that saw them fall 1-0 at Toronto FC. The match featured the long-awaited debut of Fire forward Michael de Leeuw, who was subbed on at halftime and led the line in a 4-2-3-1; the Dutchman was unable to find an equalizer but showed well in finding his way into dangerous space in the Toronto 18. Wednesday marks his first chance to perform live in front of the home crowd, where the Fire have been unbeaten in six straight across MLS and U.S. Open Cup competition. The confidence at home will be an important starting point for Veljko Paunovic, who will want to see more consistent connectivity between the midfield and forward lines than the Fire displayed Saturday at BMO Field.
Parking Advisory: Toyota Park West Lot closed Wednesday
Toppling the Table-Toppers
Sporting enter Wednesday night’s contest on the heels of a convincing 3-1 win over first-place New York City FC at home Sunday night. SKC managed 67 percent of the possession and a 19-4 advantage in shots in the victory, their third win in the last five MLS matches. Sporting are 3-0-2 in their last five in the league thanks in part to the renewed play of midfielder Benny Feilhaber, with the 2015 MLS MVP finalist bagging three goals and two assists in those matches. SKC currently sits fifth place in the Western Conference on 28 points through 20 matches played.
Not in Kansas City Anymore
Sporting KC stands 2-4-3 on the road so far in 2016, with their last MLS away victory coming on April 9 in a 2-0 win at the New York Red Bulls. Despite having only two wins in nine road contests this season, Sporting’s defense away from home ranks as one of the top performing units in the league. Head coach Peter Vermes' men have allowed a league-low nine goals through nine road matches -- posting three clean sheets -- but SKC have themselves been blanked offensively in four of their nine road outings. Their last away match -- a 2-2 draw in Montreal on June 25 -- broke a streak of three straight road games without a goal for the club.
Super Subs
Sporting’s dominant victory over NYCFC came without the inclusions of leading goal-scorer Dom Dwyer (card accumulation) and U.S. Men’s National Team regulars Graham Zusi (hamstring injury) and Matt Besler (coach’s decision) in the lineup. Dwyer and Zusi could feature Wednesday night, but Besler’s status remains questionable. After returning from his time with the USMNT during their Copa America Centenario run, the Kansas City native was a late sub and headed home a stoppage time winner in a 3-2 victory over Columbus Crew SC on July 3. However, he started Sunday’s contest against NYCFC on the bench, and was passed over when it came time for head coach Peter Vermes to make a defensive substitute. The team’s collective leader in clearances, blocks and interceptions -- Portuguese central defender Nuno Andre Coelho -- came on late instead after missing the team’s previous five matches with an injury.
Regardless, in Besler, Coelho, Zusi, and Dwyer, Sporting will now have a quartet of impact players freshly available for selection on Wednesday.
The #CHIvSKC Series
Chicago commands the lead in the all-time series with Sporting KC, holding a 25-14-11 advantage in the series since 1998. The two teams last met in an early May contest last season, a 1-0 victory for Sporting in Kansas City that snapped a three-match Fire winning streak. Sporting haven’t won in Chicago since a 2-1 victory on the strength of early goals from Feilhaber and Zusi on July 7, 2013.
Individually, the match offers the potential for Chicago Fire defender Michael Harrington to line up against the club for which he began his professional career and appeared 149 times over six seasons. Sporting KC, meanwhile, features longtime Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp, who racked up 174 MLS appearances, 14 goals and 36 assists for the Men In Red from 2003-10. Goalkeeper Alec Kann, who spent three seasons in and made one first team appearance for Chicago, also is in his first season with the Kansas City-based club.
