The Fire kept their playoff hopes alive after their 3-1 win over Inter Miami on Saturday night, but now face a difficult task on Tuesday as they travel north of the border to take on Wilfried Nancy’s second place CF Montréal side.
Montréal are fresh off of a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew that saw them officially qualify for the 2022 Audi MLS Cup playoffs.
Here is what to look for in the Gerber Collision and Glass Scouting Report…
LAST TIME OUT
These two teams saw each other just a few weeks ago at Soldier Field, where the visitors came away victorious 2-0.
It was a night in which the Fire were beaten on numerous fronts, despite Ismaël Koné being sent off in the 40th minute.
The visitors used a high press paired with a savvy midfield to stimy the Fire for a large portion of the 90 minutes.
Nancy’s side was resilient and clinical when they needed to be. It’s difficult to pull much from that game outside of a couple real opportunities from Jhon Durán and Fabian Herbers that were brilliantly saved by Sebastian Breza.
The Fire will need a completely different type of performance if they are going to take down a side that is red hot, having only lost one game in their last 11.
TAKE. YOUR. CHANCES.
It is no secret the Fire have struggled to score this season, but Montréal are very much vulnerable having conceded 47 goals in 2022.
Chicago had a couple of true chances against the Canadian outfit last time around, and that wasn’t anything close to Chicago’s best. There will be chances in this game, but they will have to be ruthless in the same way they were against Vancouver the last time they traveled north of the border.
Jhon Durán will need to have a big night, in addition to some more Xherdan Shaqiri magic.
These two players, along with Chris Mueller, have been some of the only reliable sources of attacking production and will have to be as sharp as ever in what few chances are created in this one.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we’ve discussed, every game from here on out is a playoff game. If you lose, you go home. Obviously, the Fire are not mathematically eliminated with a loss, but their chances will seemingly go from slim to none.
These types of scenarios require full focus and discipline for 90 minutes and minimal mistakes.
Montréal will definitely rotate and be a bit spent from the weekend result and clinching their playoff spot, but will definitely be the toughest game for the Fire in their remaining four.
Tony and I will be calling the game from SeatGeek Stadium while the boys will be in Québec. Join us at 6:30 p.m. CT on WGN and CF97 Live while Ezra Hendrickson and the Fire look to keep the dream alive.
