MATCH INFO |
|
|---|---|
<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Matchup</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;">Chicago Fire (7-17-6, 27 points) at Toronto FC (12-13-4, 40 points)</span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Date</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;">Saturday, September 26 • 1 p.m. CT</span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Location</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;">BMO Field; Toronto, Ont. </span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>TV</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size: 14px;">CSN Chicago (until 2:30 p.m. CT) and CSN+ (entirety)</span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Radio</strong></span> |
<span style="font-size:14px;">ESPN Deportes 97.5 FM Chicago (Spanish)</span> |
Chicago's Canadian road trip rolls on Saturday with the Fire's first and only visit this season to BMO Field to face Toronto FC. The Reds are battling to assure themselves of favorable playoff positioning, while Chicago looks to find its footing in its second outing under interim head coach Brian Bliss and interim assistant coach Logan Pause.
With kickoff set for 1 p.m. CT, pregame coverage from BMO Field begins at 12:30 p.m. CT on both Comcast SportsNet Chicago and CSN+. The match will air on both channels until 2:30 p.m., when the flagship CSN station will divert its coverage with CSN+ airing the fixture in its entirety.
Chicago is unbeaten in its last 12 meetings with Toronto FC (6-0-6) and boasts a 9-3-8 all-time record in the series, including a 3-2 victory at Toyota Park all the way back on April 4 this season. After the Fire rallied from a 2-1 deficit, captain Jeff Larentowicz provided the match-winner with a free kick goal from distance in the 68th minute.
On the Rebound
The Fire left Montreal Wednesday night again encouraged by another formidable performance in a hostile road setting, yet understandably disheartened to come away without points after missed chances in front of net and a questionable no-call on Didier Drogba's opening tally contributed to a 2-1 win for the Impact. With only five draws to show for 15 road matches this season, Bliss and the Men In Red are determined to take a full three points on the road in either or both of their final two opportunities in 2015: Saturday at TFC and Oct. 18 at D.C. United. A Chicago Fire win, coupled by a win or draw in D.C. for Montreal, would mathematically keep the Men In Red in the playoff race for at least another week.
With only two days of recovery between matches, Bliss could be poised to make several changes from Wednesday's Starting XI. The strike partnership of Kennedy Igboananike and Gilberto played 66 and 78 minutes at Stade Saputo, respectively, and it remains to be seen whether the likes of Mike Magee -- whose last MLS start came on July 15 in Columbus -- is fit enough to contribute in a starting role once again. For Gilberto, the match marks a return to the club where he spent the 2014 season as a Designated Player, scoring seven goals and five assists for the Reds.
The central midfield tandem of Matt Polster and Razvan Cocis earned the nod midweek, but Harry Shipp, Michael Stephens and Matt Watson provide additional options for Bliss to select from. The second-year Shipp, who leads the Men In Red in minutes played in 2015, stands just 27 minutes shy of equaling his season-long minutes total from his 2014 rookie campaign.
On the back line, Joevin Jones made his first appearance as substitute this season as Homegrown rookie Patrick Doody took the reins at left back, while on the other side Lovel Palmer started for just the second time in seven matches. Like Gilberto, center back Ty Harden is back to his former stomping grounds this week, having started 39 of his 43 appearances for Toronto FC from 2010-12.
Atomic Mass
Regardless of who is in Bliss' Starting XI, they'll be paying a great deal of attention to Italian playmaker Sebastian Giovinco. The Atomic Ant remains in the MLS MVP hunt with 19 goals and 14 assists -- the second-highest goals-plus-assists total in league history -- in his inaugural season with the Reds and will be part of what figures to be a first-choice lineup for Greg Vanney, one that features an in-form Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.
Toronto put an end to a three-match losing skid a week ago when it defeated visiting Colorado, 3-1, inching the club closer to its first-ever playoff appearance after eight seasons on the outside looking in. Giovinco again led the charge in the victory, netting a brace and assisting on TFC's third tally to assure the hosts of three points.
Of Note
• Following Saturday's match at Toronto FC, rookie midfielder Matt Polster will depart camp to join the U-23 U.S. Men's National Team for upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying competition. The U-23's face Canada (Oct. 1), Panama (Oct. 3) and Cuba (Oct. 6) in Group A action. Polster will miss Chicago's Oct. 3 clash with the New England Revolution but will benefit from the Fire's ensuing idle weekend.
• Captain Jeff Larentowicz is on track to secure his 300th MLS regular season appearance this season, entering the weekend with 297 career appearances and four matches remaining on Chicago's 2015 schedule. Larentowicz missed five games this season to a neck injury but has scored six goals in 2015 -- matching his total from last season and one shy of his single-season career high -- and has now started 89 of 90 appearances in a Chicago Fire shirt.
MATCH DETAILS
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Greg Barkey; AR2 (opposite): Kyle Atkins; 4th: Drew Fischer
MLS Career: 58 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 15; pens: 17
SUSPENDED: none
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: TOR: Nick Hagglund … CHI: Eric Gehrig, Kennedy Igboananike, Patrick Nyarko
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: TOR: Collen Warner, Sebastian Giovinco, Ahmed Kantari. Damien Perquis, Justin Morrow, Jozy Altidore, Marky Delgado … CHI: Chris Ritter, Adailton, Jeff Larentowicz, Matt Polster
DISABLED LIST: TOR: Mark Bloom (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
Download the complete MLS Game Guide
