The final week of the 2020 MLS regular season is here, and with it comes a pair of matches that will determine the Chicago Fire’s postseason destiny.
First up, head coach Raphael Wicky’s men will travel to Minnesota United on Wednesday night (7 p.m. CT | WGN, ESPN+) for a match that was originally scheduled to take place on Oct. 14, but was postponed due to a suspected case of COVID-19 among the Minnesota squad.
The Fire will then return home for a Decision Day showdown on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field against New York City FC, set to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT (WGN, ESPN+).
Entering the week, eight out of 10 postseason spots have already been clinched in the Eastern Conference. MLS recently announced that - due to due to schedule disruptions from COVID-19 - qualification for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs will be determined on a points per game basis (PPG).
The Fire (5-9-7, 1.05 PPG) are currently holding onto the 10th and final position coming out of their 1-1 draw at Nashville SC on Saturday night, while the Montreal Impact (7-13-2, 1.05 PGG) are a point ahead in ninth.
“We believe that we can make the playoffs,” Wicky told media following Saturday’s match in Nashville. “I see the progress. I see the progress and the process of this team, and I see a lot of progress. I see it in every single game.”
The Fire are in the favorable position of controlling their own postseason fates heading into the last week of regular season play. Four points would guarantee them a place in the playoffs when everything is said and done on Decision Day. Anything less and scoreboard watching will come into play. The exact scenarios will become clearer following Wednesday's match in Minnesota.
The Fire's chances were given an additional boost with Sunday’s results around the league, as three of their four competitors for the two remaining Eastern Conference playoff spots (Montreal, Inter Miami, and D.C. United) all suffered defeats. Atlanta United - the fourth team eying a playoff berth - were 2-0 winners over already eliminated FC Cincinnati, but remain outside the playoff window in 11th place with the result.
“That's out of our control,” Wicky added on Saturday. “I said it a lot in the last week to my team and to my staff: We can always look at the other (games), but we have to win our game. So we are going to watch these games and by the end of the day, if we have one or two games left, we're going to make our points. That's more important. That's what we can work for and what we can control more than the other.”
Defender Mauricio Pineda echoed that sentiment coming out of the Nashville match. For as much as the standings around them may change in the days ahead, the team’s approach to the week will not.
“We go into every game, regardless, looking for three points,” Pineda said. “I don't think that will change much for our team and our mentality going into games.”
