Charlotte FC could seal a playoff spot when they host Chicago Fire at Bank of America Stadium in Wednesday night's Major League Soccer action.
Dean Smith's men sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with three games remaining and could confirm a top-seven spot with success against a side with little or nothing left to fight for this term.
Match preview
While Charlotte's recent draw at Inter Miami continued their winless run away from home, a point at the overall MLS-leading side must go down as one gained rather than two lost.
Five matches without a road win (two defeats) have threatened to scupper the Crown's ambition to participate in the post-season MLS Cup, and they return to North Carolina keen to boost those prospects in their penultimate home fixture.
Although they secured a 4-0 triumph the last time they played in front of their supporters, that victory followed a four-match sequence without maximum points and a one-win-in-seven run.
Having picked up four points from an available six, Smith hopes his side (42 points) end the regular season strongly, aiming to ward off Toronto, Philadelphia Union and Montreal (all three have 37 points) in the final rounds to secure a coveted playoff place.
Given the forms of Philadelphia and Montreal — the Union have notched seven points from nine and the latter have secured 10 points from four games — Charlotte cannot rest on their laurels in the closing gameweeks.
Smith will hope his team exploit an opponent that enters Wednesday's match on a three-match winless run (two losses) without hope of a top-seven place or ending eighth or ninth.
A broader look into the Fire's results shows one victory in eight MLS matches, falling to five losses and playing out draws against New York City (2-2) and recently against playoff-chasing Toronto (1-1).
Frank Klopas could not inspire a turnaround in an interim capacity last year as the Men in Red missed out on the post-regular season competition and has not masterminded an encouraging outcome as permanent head coach this season, with the Illinois-based club mathematically out of the running for seventh in the Eastern — they are 12 points behind Charlotte — or ninth, due to the seven-point difference having played 32 of 34 games.
A wretched sequence of results on the road have contributed to the Fire's underwhelming season, underscored by two wins — a joint low in their division — and nine losses, outdone by only New England Revolution.
Having lost seven of nine on their travels heading into this midweek match against Charlotte, the away support will dread another reverse in their final road fixture of the season.
Team News
Smith is not expected to have Jahlane Forbes available for Charlotte due to a hip injury, while Nikola Petkovic could miss out because of a knee issue.
Despite being pressured for most of the game at Inter Miami, Nathan Byrne avoided a booking and is available for selection against Chicago Fire.
Hugo Cuypers featured for the Fire against Atlanta despite pre-match doubts, and the forward could lead the attack after coming through 75 minutes ostensibly unscathed.
However, Chase Gasper, Andrew Gutman and Carlos Teran (the trio have leg issues) will be assessed before facing Charlotte.
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Ream; Biel, Urso, Westwood, Abada; Swiderski, Bronico
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Souquet, Omsberg, Czichos; Reynolds, Herbers, Gimenez, Acosta, Lassiter; Cuypers, Koutsias
We say: Charlotte FC 2-1 Chicago Fire
Charlotte have dominated recent match-ups against the Fire, notching four consecutive victories entering Wednesday's fixture, and they should seal another success against an opponent that has nothing riding on the outcome in Illinois.
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