Houston Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire
2017 MLS Match Preview
BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston
Sunday, October 22 – 4 p.m. ET
WATCH : MLS LIVE
Two postseason participants face off in Sunday's lone cross-conference matchup, with crucial seeding at stake. For the Chicago Fire can not only lock up home-field for a potential Knockout Round match, but skip one altogether with a bye. The Houston Dynamo will be chasing a full result, as three points -- and some help from either Colorado (vs. Seattle) or Real Salt Lake (vs. Sporting KC) -- seals a home setting in the Knockout Round.
The Fire enter rounding into form, with a comeback 3-2 victory against Philadelphia triggered by a Nemanja Nikolic hat trick. Houston, meanwhile, rides a five-match unbeaten streak that most recently took four points from a home-and-home series with Western Conference rival Sporting KC.
Houston Dynamo
- Suspended: NONE
- Int’l Duty: NONE
- Injury Report: OUT: D George Malki (torn ACL 3/15); M Memo Rodriguez (right knee sprain); QUESTIONABLE: D Phillipe Senderos (right adductor strain)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1; left-to-right)
GK: Tyler Deric – DaMarcus Beasley, Leondardo, Adolofo Machado, AJ DeLaGarza – Ricardo Clark, Eric Alexander – Alex, Tomas Martinez, Alberth Elis – Erick "Cubo" Torres
Notes: According to Opta, Adolfo Machado leads MLS with 193 clearances this season, 15 more than the next closest player.
Chicago Fire
- Suspended: NONE
- Int’l Duty: NONE
- Injury Report: OUT: M John Goossens (right ankle surgery), GK Jorge Bava (left elbow surgery), D Christian Dean (fifth metatarsal fracture), F Michael de Leeuw (ruptured left ACL), M Bastian Schweinsteiger (right thigh injury); QUESTIONABLE: M Daniel Johnson (left MCL injury), M Juninho (left knee injury)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, left to right)
GK: Matt Lampson – Brandon Vincent, Joao Meira, Johan Kappelhoff, Matt Polster – Djordje Mihailovic, Dax McCarty – David Accam, Luis Solignac, Arturo Alvarez – Nemanja Nikolic
Notes: The Fire have never won at BBVA Compass Stadium, and overall haven't won in Houston since the 2007 season, now nine consecutive visits without a victory.
All-Time Series
- Overall: Houston holds an 8-6-8 advantage, with a 30-26 goal differential.
- At Houston: The Dynamo are 5-2-4 against Chicago, with a 16-12 (+4) advantage.
Referees
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Eric Weisbrod
Fourth Official: Ted Unkel
Video Assistant Referee: Nima Saghafi
