MATCH INFO |
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<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (3-3-3, 12 pts.) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (2-3-4, 10 pts.) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Saturday, May 13 • 8:00 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
Bridgeview, Ill. • Toyota Park |
<strong>TV</strong> |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
<strong>Spanish Radio</strong> |
<a href="http://stream.uvneng.com/wrtoam-cf"><strong>Univision América 1200 (WRTO)</strong></a> |
<b>MLS Match Preview</b> |
<a href="https://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2017/05/11/chicago-fire-vs-seattle-sounders-2017-mls-match-preview"><b>Projected lineups, injuries, and more</b></a> |
<strong>Fan Advisories</strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2017/05/09/fan-advisories-allow-extra-time-arrival-saturdays-home-match">Click Here</a></strong> |
The Chicago Fire return home after a three-match stint on the road to welcome the reigning MLS Champion Seattle Sounders to Toyota Park on Saturday night (8 pm CT, ESPN2). The Fire were disappointed to collect just a single point from their road trip via a 2-2 draw at LA last weekend, and will be looking to get back on a winning track in front of a packed crowd at Toyota Park, where they've lost only once in their last 17 MLS home outings. Ahead of Saturday night's match, here are a few key facts, faces and figures to keep in mind:
Key number: 90.4
Much is made -- with good reason -- of the Sounders attacking trio of Jordan Morris, Clint Dempsey and Nicolas Lodeiro as well as ever-dangerous target man Will Bruin, but lurking behind them in the Seattle engine room is nine-year MLS veteran Osvaldo Alonso. The Cuban international has been in top form so far in 2017, keeping things tidy in the Seattle central channels alongside midfield partner Cristian Roldan. Alonso's usage rate is not only one of the highest in MLS, but he's been one of the cleanest players on the ball in 2017 as well. Of the four MLS players to have attempted 700+ passes so far this season, none can boast a higher accuracy than Alonso's 90.4%, according to Opta. His 864 touches is top-four league wide total as well. Expect to see plenty of battles among the likes of Alonso, Dax McCarty and Juninho on Saturday.
Matchup to watch: Drew Conner vs. Jordan Morris
Should he receive a second consecutive start at right back, Chicago Fire Homegrown player Drew Conner is up for yet another tough test along his touchline. Sounders and U.S. Men's National Team forward Jordan Morris has been deployed out wide as of late, leaving Clint Dempsey and Will Bruin to the do the dirty work centrally in attack. From that spot, his well-know pace and elusiveness can be used as a greater weapon. Preventing Morris and left back Joevin Jones -- who's already on five assists this season -- from combining and getting behind the defense will be the challenge for Conner.
One Big Question: Can Nemanja Nikolic continue his scoring form?
The Hungarian forward has been on a tear as of late, having bagged five goals in his last five games as the focal point of the Fire front line. He's also scored in three of the Fire's four home matches as well, and will want to keep that string of form going against a very capable Sounders attack that had previously scored three goals in consecutive matches prior to being shutout by Toronto FC last weekend. Roman Torres and the rest of Seattle's backline -- somewhat depleted through injuries (Brad Evans, Chad Marshall, Oniel Fisher) and suspension (Jordy Delem) -- will have to adjust quickly to the well-timed runs of Nikolic and David Accam.
Quote of the Week:
"We all came out of that game very frustrated. I think that's a good thing. That's a positive thing. For the first time, we felt like one point is not enough. We all learned from that, and I think we are projecting that frustration towards the next game against Seattle."
That's Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic speaking after training on Thursday. The Fire gave up a 2-0 halftime lead last weekend in LA to draw 2-2, and the frustration in not securing a full three points has been evident. As Pauno said, channeling that frustration into a huge home match on Saturday will be key.
Fire Field Vision powered by NovaCare:
From the media guide:
- The Fire are 1-7-3 all-time in regular season matches against the Sounders, including a 1-3-2 record in matches played at home.
- Current Sounders players Alvaro Fernandez (2012), Joevin Jones (2015) and former Fire Homegrown player Harry Shipp (2014-15) previously spent time with the Fire.
