MATCH INFO |
|
|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (4-9-5, 17 pts.) at New England Revolution (5-7-8, 23 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Saturday, July 23 • 6:30 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Foxborough, Mass. • Gillette Stadium |
<strong>TV</strong> |
CSN Chicago Plus (Pregame: 6 p.m.) |
<strong>Radio</strong> |
97.5 FM Poder (Spanish) |
<strong>Fire Field Vision</strong> |
<a href="//www.chicago-fire.com/post/2016/07/21/fire-field-vision-powered-novacare-nevchi?autoplay=true"><strong>Watch Now</strong></a> |
The Fire face another road challenge Saturday with a visit to Gillette Stadium and Eastern Conference playoff line-walkers New England Revolution. Coverage of the match kicks off at 6 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago Plus with kickoff to follow at 6:30. It's been a busy few weeks for the Men In Red. Get caught up with the team with our matchday storylines below.
Lathering up
Wednesday night’s results in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup likely added a wrinkle to both teams’ preparations for Saturday’s meeting in Foxborough. The Fire were always slated to face the winner of the New England/Philadelphia quarterfinal matchup in the event they advanced past NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Toyota Park on Wednesday. Veljko Paunovic’s men took care of business to the tune of a 3-0 victory while the Revolution bested the Union in penalty kicks at Harvard’s Jordan Field.
Now, in advance of Aug. 9’s semifinal showdown – which will be hosted in New England after a draw conducted by the United States Soccer Federation Thursday morning – these two teams will get an advanced screening of one another in MLS play this weekend. While three points will be the priority on both sides, there is also the chance for Pauno and Jay Heaps to pressure-test their tactics and individual matchups for cup competition.
A quick trim
The gameday roster for the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star team was revealed last Sunday, and it features a pair of players who may go head-to-head with one another at Gillette Stadium Saturday night. Rookie left back Brandon Vincent will represent the Fire in next week’s annual exhibition, which will take place in San Jose against Premier League giant Arsenal. If Vincent continues his usual ventures down Chicago's left flank, he's likely to encounter New England’s own 2016 All-Star selection, fourth-year right back Andrew Farrell.
Farrell has appeared in all 20 MLS matches for New England this season, including 19 starts, and leads the team with 128 combined clearances, blocks, and interceptions. Vincent has started eight of Chicago’s last 10 games among the team’s mid-summer gauntlet and has worked to solidify his position along the team’s left flank.
Not-so-close shave
Saturday marks the second of three trips Chicago will make to Foxborough in 2016. The first meeting – a 2-0 May result to the Revolution at Gillette Stadium – went the way of the home side that was introducing new acquisition Kei Kamara, but featured the return of Fire forward David Accam after an absence due to injury.
Since that May meeting, New England have had a mixed run in MLS play. Jay Heaps’ men are 3-4-1 in their last eight matches, which includes a 2-2-0 record at home. They currently hover just above the red line in the Eastern Conference, with 23 points through 20 matches played. Kamara (three goals in nine games) and playmaker Lee Nguyen (one goal, one assist in last five matches) each are looking to up their production and jumpstart the Revs attack.
Looking patchy
The New England defense will be looking to build upon its shutout of Real Salt Lake in a 0-0 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium last weekend after what has been a rocky first half of the season. That match marked the Revolution’s fourth clean sheet of the year, and their first since their initial home meeting with the Fire back on May 14. The New England defense has had mild trouble keeping teams out of the back of the net so far this season, with 33 goals allowed this season. That’s the second-highest total in MLS so far this season, behind only NYCFC’s and Vancouver’s 35.
In addition, the Revolution have shown a knack for giving up goals near the end of the first and second halves of matches. They’ve allowed eight goals in minutes 31-45 -- the most of any team in MLS -- and have also conceded eight times in minutes 76-90, the league’s second-highest total behind Columbus’ 11.
A razor-thin margin
The Revolution have bested the Fire once already this season, but the Fire own a slight edge in the all-time series. Chicago’s owns a 22-20-11 advantage since joining the league in 1998.
Notably, Saturday’s match represents a chance for the Fire to end their long-standing road winless streak in the place where they last won away (July 12, 2014) -- and where they'll be determined to grab another road win in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal in 17 days.
"Saturday again we go for the win and I’m not thinking about the streak that we got on the road," Michael de Leeuw told reporters on Wednesday. "You know, it is another opportunity to play and to win and we need the points because we are six points behind (New England). We'd like to win on the road and it is a great chance for us to do that on Saturday."
