The Chicago Fire have a chance to extend their unbeaten run to six games as they head to Subaru Park to face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Philly remain first in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer despite having a six-match unbeaten run snapped by FC Cincinnati (3-1) last week, while the Fire have climbed into a playoff position after edging Charlotte FC 3-2.
Match preview
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After weeks of smooth sailing, the Union were beaten at their own game versus Cincinnati, who gave them all sorts of problems with the high press, scoring three times in the second half.
That was the most Philly had conceded in a single encounter all year, and it could hamper their chances of setting an MLS record for fewest goals allowed in a regular season, having now let in 18 strikes this year, two fewer than what Real Salt Lake gave up in the entire 2010 campaign.
Their unbeaten run may have ended last week, but the Union can extend their regular season undefeated streak at Subaru Park to 18 consecutive games with a win or draw against the Fire, as they are the only team in the league who have yet to lose at home this year.
At home is where this team have done most of their damage lately, winning their last four matches by a combined score of 17-2.
Throughout the 2022 season, many have questioned how much offensive depth this team possess, and Jim Curtin's men have answered those criticisms well, with six different players getting their names on the scoresheet over their previous two games.
Philadelphia are unbeaten in this campaign when leading at the half, winning all but two encounters this year in that scenario.
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A season that looked doomed for a long time has changed dramatically for a Chicago team that have acquired 13 out of a possible 15 points since mid-July.
Despite giving away a pair of soft goals to Charlotte, they have been outstanding in front of goal in recent outings, particularly away from home.
They have scored three times on the road in back-to-back fixture, becoming just the second MLS club to tally more than once at Bank of America Stadium this season.
For the first time since 2013, the Fire have won consecutive regular season away matches, while their previous victory in the City of Brotherly Love also came in that same year when they beat the Union 2-1.
While they currently find themselves above the playoff line, there is little room for error, as Chicago are level on points with three other teams in the Eastern Conference, while two sides are within one victory of overtaking them for seventh.
Ezra Hendrickson has seen his team struggle to maintain a solid defensive shape away from home, conceding in all but two of their road fixtures this season.
They have missed the playoffs in four successive campaigns, and their subsequent three encounters could put some distance between themselves and the teams chasing them, as they face three opponents (Philly, New York City FC and CF Montreal), who are currently ahead of them in the table.
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Team News
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Union goalkeeper Andre Blake became the second non-American shot-stopper to start multiple MLS all-star games as he played the first half hour against the Liga MX all-stars in Minnesota before being replaced by Dayne St Clair, who was named the MVP of the game, as the MLS squad won 2-1.
Kai Wagner is third in the league when it comes to assists (11) and fourth in key passes (53), Daniel Gazdag leads them with 11 goals in 2022 and Mikael Uhre has six tallies in his previous four home fixtures.
Paxten Aaronson picked up his first of the season in their defeat to Cincy last weekend, while there was one new face in the starting 11 for Philadelphia in their previous encounter as Jose Martinez began in place of Jack McGlynn.
Former Union striker Kacper Przybylko had a brace for the Fire in their 3-2 triumph over Charlotte, his fourth and fifth of the campaign, to lead his team in that department, Xherdan Shaqiri had a pair of assists as he is first for them with 10 on the season, while Federico Navarro notched his second of the year and a first since scoring the lone tally in a 1-0 win over Philadelphia back in late June.
Gabriel Slonina is tied with Blake for second in the league in clean sheets with 10, Rafael Czichos scored in their previous road victory (3-1) against the Whitecaps, with Shaqiri and Chris Mueller tallying the other goals for them in that encounter
Carlos Teran and Stanislav Ivanov have right thigh issues, Wyatt Omsberg is nursing a left foot problem and Jhon Espinoza has a right knee injury.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Wagner, Elliott, Glesnes, Mbaizo; McGlynn; Aaronson, Bedoya; Gazdag; Uhre, Carranza
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Slonina; M. Navarro, Bornstein, Pineda, Reynolds II; Gimenez, F. Navarro; Duran, Shaqiri, Mueller; Przybylko
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-0 Chicago Fire
Chicago will be desperate to maintain their top seven position in the Eastern Conference, but Philly are only three points ahead of NYCFC for first, so there is just as much for them to play for at the moment.
The Union have been incredibly potent, well-organised and full of confidence on home soil, all of which we believe will propel them to another victory at Subaru Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
