A pair of sides barely clinging to playoff spots in their respective conferences will square off at Soldier Field on Wednesday as the Chicago Fire host the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first match between both teams this year.
The Fire have lost back-to-back MLS affairs, losing 3-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy last Saturday, currently, two points above DC United for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Whitecaps edged the Portland Timbers 3-2, putting them two points clear of the postseason line in the West.
Match preview
Chicago are holding down a playoff position by the skin of their teeth and have nine matches remaining in their quest to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Heading into the Leagues Cup, the Fire had posted three successive domestic clean sheets but have regressed defensively since that tournament began, conceding in five straight competitive fixtures, including six in their last two MLS encounters.
Eight of the last nine goals conceded by Frank Klopas's side in this competition have occurred in the second half, including three in their previous home outing, when Chicago suffered a 3-1 defeat to Orlando City.
That was the fourth time all season that the Fire had failed to maintain a first-half advantage at home in the regular season, and the first time they came away empty-handed in the Windy City when leading after 45 minutes.
While an elusive playoff berth will be the ultimate goal for this team between now and the end of the campaign, Chicago need eight points from their final nine matches to surpass their total from 2022 (39).
They are unbeaten in their three matches played this season against Canadian clubs, winning twice and failing to concede in any of those encounters.
Vancouver began their seven-game road trip on the right foot this past weekend, earning their second away victory of the MLS campaign.
Their triumph put them in the lead for the Cascadia Cup, but more importantly, it has them in a much stronger position to return to the postseason.
It was only the fifth time this club had won an away contest in this competition since Vanni Sartini took charge in August 2021, with Vancouver having now earned nine points on the road in the 2023 regular season, one fewer than in 2022.
Wednesday will be the first time the Caps face an Eastern Conference opponent on the road in MLS play this year, with this team winless in their last seven regular-season matches away from home versus the East, losing all three encounters against that conference last year by a combined score of 8-2.
They are winless in their last two regular-season visits to Chicago, conceding an 84th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot in 2019 and playing to a 1-1 draw.
Seven of their last eight matches in all competitions have been decided by a goal or fewer, with the Whitecaps coming out on top on two occasions.
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Team News
Chicago were without Javier Casas versus the Galaxy as he is dealing with an issue in his right upper arm, Chris Mueller was on the sidelines with a right upper leg issue, Victor Bezerra sat out with a right lower leg injury, Mauricio Pineda was forced out due to yellow card accumulation, while Gaston Gimenez received two cautions before that match was 30 minutes old and will miss this encounter as a result.
Kei Kamara collected his 413th career MLS cap last Saturday, equalling Chris Wondolowski for the fourth-most appearances in league history, Rafael Czichos was in the starting 11 for the first time since their Leagues Cup triumph over Minnesota United (3-2), Federico Navarro was in the opening lineup for the first time since June 24, and Chris Brady was back between the sticks after missing their match against Orlando City with a knock.
The last time they faced Vancouver in 2022, Xherdan Shaqiri and Mueller each had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 away triumph, with Czichos scoring the winner.
Thomas Hasal was scratched from the Whitecaps team sheet in Portland because of patellar tendinopathy, Luis Martins missed that match due to a left calf strain, while Andres Cubas will not be available on Wednesday, having picked up another caution last weekend.
Ryan Gauld has 10 goals and eight assists in his last 13 competitive fixtures, notching a brace versus the Timbers, with the other strike coming courtesy of Brian White, who set a new career high, netting for the 13th time in all competitions, and also moving into a tie for third in all-time goals for the club (25) alongside Pedro Morales, while he is now one behind Fredy Montero for second and 14 back of Camilo Sanvezzo.
Last Saturday, Ali Ahmed made his first start for the Caps since May 24, Sam Adekugbe featured in the starting 11 for the first time since returning to the club from a spell in Turkey and Russell Teibert made his 300th career appearance for Vancouver in all competitions.
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Dean, Teran, Czichos, Aceves; F. Navarro, Haile-Selassie; Herbers, Shaqiri, Torres; Koutsias
Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Takaoka; Adekugbe, Veselinovic, Blackmon; Laryea, Raposo, Schopf, Ahmed; Vite; White, Gauld
We say: Chicago Fire 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
The Caps have built up a lot of confidence away from home of late, winning three of their last four road contests in all competitions, and we expect Gauld and White to carry them to another massive three points on Wednesday.
Defensively, the Fire have struggled in recent outings, while they have not created nearly as many scoring opportunities since Mueller was sidelined through injury.
How to watch
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