MATCH INFO |
|
|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (2-7-5, 11 pts.) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (5-4-7, 22 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Friday, July 1 • 7 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Bridgeview, Ill. • Toyota Park |
<strong>TV</strong> |
UniMas, Univision Deportes (<strong><a href="//www.chicago-fire.com/schedule/broadcast/channel-listings">Channel Guide</a></strong>) |
<strong>Radio</strong> |
97.5 FM Poder (Spanish) |
<strong>Fire Field Vision</strong> |
<a href="//www.chicago-fire.com/post/2016/06/30/fire-field-vision-powered-novacare-chivsj?autoplay=true"><strong>Watch Now</strong></a> |
<strong>Matchday Guide </strong> |
<a href="//www.chicago-fire.com/post/2016/06/29/start-holiday-weekend-fireworks-chivsj-presented-valspar"><strong>Click for Info</strong></a> |
The Chicago Fire are set to host their first MLS match since the end of May as Western Conference foe San Jose Earthquakes come to town on Friday night in a match presented by Valspar. Coverage begins with kickoff on UniMas at 7 p.m. CT. Below are five storylines to keep an eye on as the Fire look to carry some U.S. Open Cup momentum into MLS play.
Back For More
The Fire come into Friday night’s matchup on the heels of a 2-1 victory over Eastern Conference rival Columbus Crew SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16 on Tuesday. Forward David Accam scored his fourth and fifth goals across his last five competitions for the Fire, and was boosted by the return of midfielder John Goossens’ presence in the starting lineup.
With an Open Cup quarterfinal date now set for July 20 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the Fire now turn their attention back to improving their place in the MLS table. Chicago will have to begin its push largely against Western Conference foes, playing three of its next four against teams out of conference. The Fire are 1-2-1 in four matches against the West this season.
Disruption
San Jose currently sit just outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference, level with Sporting Kansas City below the red line on 22 points. Much of the Earthquakes’ current situation can be attributed to the polarizing 2016 campaign they’ve endured through 16 games. San Jose has compiled records of 5-0-3 at home and 0-4-4 away from the friendly confines of Avaya Stadium.
Another contributing factor to San Jose’s spot below the playoff line is a lack of chance generation on offense. Of the seven teams that have played 16 MLS matches, San Jose has put the least amount of shots on goal of the group. Their 61 total attempts in the category also rank the less than the five teams that have only played 15 games through this point as well.
A Unicorn in the Bay
San Jose will get a boost from the return of prolific goal-scorer Chris Wondolowski after the 33-year-old's international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Wondolowski was away with the Quakes during the U.S.' fourth-place run in the Copa America Centenario. Wondolowski appeared twice for the USMNT in the tournament, first in a 12-minute relief effort in their 4-0 rout of Costa Rica in Chicago and second in a 45-minute start in the team’s 4-0 semifinal loss to Argentina.
Despite being absent for four MLS matches, Wondolowski remains the Quakes' season-leader in goals and shots on goal, with seven finishes and 11 attempts on target to his name through 12 games played. Wondo stands fourth all-time in Major League Soccer with 116 career goals -- 17 behind Jaime Moreno in third -- and has found net five times in 11 career appearances against the Men In Red.
Long Histories
The Fire and Earthquakes first met in Chicago's fourth-ever MLS match back on April 11, 1998, and have played a total of 34 times in the regular season. The Men In Red hold the lead in the all-time MLS series, having put together a 13-10-11 record over the Bay Area side. The Quakes, however, hold a two-match winning streak over the Fire dating back to 2014. They were 5-1 winners at Buck Shaw Stadium two seasons ago and also bested Chicago 2-1 in the grand opening of Avaya Stadium last March.
The Fire have earned a result in 14 of 16 all-time home matches against the Quakes, including a 3-2 victory in San Jose’s most recent visit to Toyota Park back on July 3, 2013.
There is also no shortage of ties between the two sides’ current rosters. Chicago Fire midfielder Arturo Alvarez enjoyed two stints with San Jose, playing his first two professional seasons with the Quakes in 2003 and 2004 before returning for another two-and-a-half seasons from 2008-10.
On the other side, Friday's match marks a return to Chicago for former Fire striker Quincy Amarikwa, who is back with the club where he began his MLS career following two-and-a-half years with the Men In Red. Likewise, Quakes forward Chad Barrett tonight will face the club for which he played his first four pro seasons, scoring 20 goals in 97 appearances with the Fire from 2005-08. Barrett provided a 90th-minute equalizer for San Jose in the club’s 1-1 draw vs. San Jose last Saturday.
Silicon Valley
Both sides will enter Friday night’s matchup feeling a little shorthanded, with San Jose carrying an especially lengthy injury report.
The Quakes will be without the services of midfielder Marc Pelosi (knee), forward Mark Sherrod (knee), and potentially five members of their defense. Jordan Stewart (hamstring), Andres Imperiale (calf), Kip Colvey (hand), Honduran international and World Cup veteran Victor Bernardez (leg) are all out, while centerback Clarence Goodson is listed as doubtful with back tightness.
For Chicago, the match could see potentially see the return of a trio of midfielders nursing injuries in Matt Polster (concussion), former Quake Arturo Alvarez (knee) and Khaly Thiam (foot). Their returns would be welcome for a Fire side that featured in a midweek U.S. Open Cup battle with Columbus, while the Quakes enter the match having not played since Saturday.
