MATCH INFO |
|
|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (5-11-7, 22 pts.) vs. LA Galaxy (9-4-11, 38 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Wednesday, August 24 • 7:30 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Bridgeview, Ill. • Toyota Park |
<strong>TV</strong> |
CSN Chicago Plus (Pregame: 7 p.m.) |
<strong>Radio (Spanish)</strong> |
97.5 FM Poder |
The Chicago Fire return home after a big win on the road in Montreal over the weekend, as they welcome the Western Conference's LA Galaxy to Toyota Park Wednesday night in a match presented by The PrivateBank. Match coverage begins at 7 p.m. CT on CSN Chicago Plus with kickoff to follow at 7:30 p.m. The Fire are looking to ride the momentum generated over the weekend and continue to advance up the Eastern Conference standings. With three home points up for grabs, here are five things to watch for ahead of Wednesday night:
Even-keel
The Chicago Fire will enter Wednesday night’s match riding a wave of momentum after snapping the club’s 36-game road winless streak on Saturday night. Veljko Paunovic’s men took down Montreal at Stade Saputo in a convincing 3-0 win, getting goals fromLuis Solignac, David Accam, andMatt Polster. Despite getting that weight off of the team’s shoulders, Paunovic is aware of the challenges that the Galaxy present as his team looks to extend its current 10-match home unbeaten streak in all competitions.
“For us, every game is a final,” he said on Monday. “We approach every game the same, and we will do all necessary adjustments that we have to do in order to prepare well and win the game.”
LA, on the other hand, is coming off of a road loss to Eastern Conference-leading New York City FC over the weekend. The Galaxy were downed 1-0 courtesy of a David Villa goal in a game that saw Bruce Arena’s side register just a single shot on goal offensively -- a trend for LA this season. LA ranks 20th out of 20 in MLS with 256 shots taken, two behind the Chicago Fire in 19th. Of course, it's all about the quality of looks and ability to finish, and the Galaxy -- fifth in MLS with 38 goals -- have had no issue finding net consistently.
Traveling well
Saturday’s loss aside, the Galaxy remain one of the league’s best performing teams on the road in 2016. They’ve compiled a 3-4-5 record in matches played away from StubHub Center, good for a .458 winning percentage that is MLS’ second-highest. Only NYCFC’s .577 winning percentage away can top that. Looking at their current run of road form, the Galaxy are 2-1-2 in their last five league games away, with that NYCFC blanking their sole blemish. Not conceding early will be a key for the Fire, as the Galaxy boast a 6-0-0 record in 2016 when leading at halftime.
Polster's proficiency
One of the Fire’s most pleasant surprises in recent weeks has been midfielder Matt Polster’s contributions to the attack. Polster, a holding midfielder by trade, has chipped in either a goal or assist in his last three matches played. Polster scored his first career goal for the club in their 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park on July 31, a diving header that gave the Fire the lead just before halftime. He also set up John Goossens’ early finish from distance in the team’s 2-2 draw with Orlando, andput a cap on scoringin the team’s 3-0 rout of Montreal last weekend. Paunovic had this to say on the performances that he and midfield partner Razvan Cocisput in on Saturday.
“They were able to add the extra things that were important for the team in order to win,” he said. “Like Razvan winning all these aerial duals against big guys like (Hassoun) Camara, like (Didier) Drogba, and then Polster even scoring a goal. Not only working hard in the midfield, but helpingJohan (Kappelhof)to play 2-v-1 against (Ignacio) Piatti and then Razvan on the other side helpingBrandon Vincentto do the same. It’s doing well your job, your role, and then putting more extra work and more extra quality to your game in order to help the team win.”
Keeping clean
Much is made of LA’s trio of international offensive playmakers -- Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, and Giovani dos Santos -- as well as U.S. international Gyasi Zardes, but it’s the work their defensive unit has put in that’s carried them to their current spot in the standings. Paced by goalkeeper Brian Rowe, the LA defense has allowed just 24 goals to this point in 2016, a total bested only by Colorado’s 20. Perhaps even more relevant, the Galaxy defense has allowed just 13 goals on the road, the league’s lowest amount. Rowe is having a career year in LA -- his 0.92 goals allowed per game average is the league’s third-lowest -- but missed Saturday's match after a nasty collision in the previous match vs. Colorado. Clement Diop made his first MLS start in his place and recorded six saves in the loss, so the Fire will need to be prepared should Rowe, Diop or veteran Dan Kennedy get the nod Wednesday.
#CHIvLA
The Fire and the Galaxy last met in the inaugural match of the 2015 campaign, a 2-0 result to the then-defending MLS Cup champion Galaxy in Carson. LA owns the all-time MLS series with a record of 20-15-5 against the Fire since 1998. A win over the Galaxy would mark Chicago’s first in the series since August 1, 2010.
The visiting side Wednesday will feature several players returning to the pitch they once called home, including 2013 MLS MVP Mike Magee(2013-15), former Fire captainJeff Larentowicz(2013-15), and midfielderBaggio Husidic(2009-11), a native of Libertyville, Ill. and product of UIC. Associate head coachDave Sarachanalso makes a return to Chicago, where he served as Fire head coach for four-and-a-half years (2003-07) and guided the club to two U.S. Open Cup titles and the 2003 Supporters' Shield.
