Preview: Chicago Fire vs. Toronto - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to avoid a third successive MLS defeat, basement club Chicago Fire will welcome Toronto to Soldier Field for their Eastern Conference clash on Thursday.

The hosts have won three of their five league games on home soil so far this season, while the visitors are one of three MLS teams who are yet to win on the road this term, drawing three and losing five of their eight away fixtures.

Match preview

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Chicago suffered their 10th MLS defeat of the season after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home against Columbus Crew last weekend.

Strikes from Rafael Czichos and Chris Mueller had put the hosts two goals to the good at half time, but a second-half brace from Derrick Etienne and an 83rd-minute winner from debutant Cucho Hernandez turned the game on its head to help the visitors secure all three points.

Ezra Hendrickson's side remain rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference with only 17 points from their 19 matches, and they are now nine points behind the playoff positions.

On a more positive note, Chicago have kept seven clean sheets so far this season, which can only be bettered by New York City FC and Philadelphia Union, and they have accumulated 13 of their 17 points when then have not conceded a goal.

Keeping Toronto out on Thursday could prove challenging, however, as the Fire have conceded in each of their last 18 competitive meetings against them.

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Toronto have extended their winless run to three matches, after following up back-to-back defeats against Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders with a 2-2 draw at home against San Jose Earthquakes last weekend.

The Reds were leading 2-1 heading into second-half stoppage time thanks to strikes from Deandre Kerr and Jonathan Osorio, but a 92nd-minute equaliser from Jack Skahan forced both sides to share the spoils.

Bob Bradley's side are still the only MLS team who are yet to keep a single clean sheet this season, conceding in all 19 of their matches and letting in at least two goals on 12 of these occasions.

Toronto currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference, two points above Thursday's opponents Chicago and seven points behind Cincinnati in seventh who occupy the final playoff position.

The Reds have an impressive record against Chicago as they are unbeaten in each of their last 14 meetings against them, winning 11 times and drawing the other three.

Team News

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Chicago will be without defenders Wyatt Omsberg and Kendall Burks due to respective foot and knee injuries.

Jonathan Bornstein is the most likely candidate to replace the suspended Miguel Navarro at left-back, while Boris Sekulic is expected to start at right-back ahead of Jhon Espinoza.

Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri is set to continue in the number 10 role behind striker Kacper Przybylko, who has scored only once in his last 12 MLS matches.

As for Toronto, Lorenzo Insigne is yet to make his debut for the club as he remains sidelined with a calf injury, while Noble Okello is also ruled out with a lower body issue.

After just over three years with the Reds, Alejandro Pozuelo has decided to leave the club and join Inter Miami; the Spaniard's departure could provide more regular first-team opportunities for the likes of Deandre Kerr, Luca Petrasso and Jayden Nelson.

Top scorer Jesus Jimenez, who has found the net eight times in the MLS so far this term, is set to lead the line alongside either Nelson or Ayo Akinola.

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:

Slonina; Sekulic, Teran, Czichos, Bornstein; Gimenez, F. Navarro; Mueller, Shaqiri, Herbers; Przybylko

Toronto possible starting lineup:

Westberg; Thompson, O'Neill, Mavinga, Criscito; Kerr, Bradley, Osorio, Petrasso; Jimenez, Akinola

We say: Chicago Fire 1-2 Toronto

Goals are to be expected on Thursday as this fixture has seen both teams score in 16 of the last 18 meetings.

Toronto have a far superior record against Chicago and although they are conceding goals for fun so far this season, we feel that they have the firepower in attack to outscore their opponents and claim all three points.

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