In a bumper-to-bumper Sunday of MLS action, the Chicago Fire will be hoping to return to winning ways when they take on the Houston Dynamo at Soldier Field.
The hosts are looking for what would be just their second win of the 2024 league campaign, while the visitors come to Illinois looking to extend an impressive three-match winning streak.
Match preview
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After finishing last term in the bottom three in the Eastern Conference and losing their final two matches of the season, Chicago Fire have made another poor start to an MLS regular season, currently in 12th place with five points after six games.
The Fire are yet to win an away game this season following a 3-0 defeat to Atlanta United last weekend, but they have registered a victory at Soldier Field this term, beating Montreal 4-3 back in gameweek three.
Against the Five Stripes, Chicago managed to keep the scores level at 0-0 until moments before the break, but a Giorgos Giakoumakis opener gave the hosts on the day the advantage, which they extended in the second period before putting the game to bed after the dismissal of Carlos Teran in the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
While Frank Klopas's side have been decent in attack this season, ranking 11 across the league with an average of 1.5 goals per 90, their major issue has come at the other end of the pitch, where they are ranked 27th, allowing 2.2 goals per match and let in seven in the last three games alone.
Undoubtedly, the new manager will be starting to feel the pressure and now has to find a way to overcome a Dynamos side that have won the last two encounters between these sides with relative ease, including a 4-1 victory at this venue in the US Open Cup last June.
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Meanwhile, Houston Dynamo made a shaky start to the 2024 MLS season, failing to win either of their first two matches against Sporting KC and New York Red Bulls, but they found their stride in week three, beating the Portland Timbers 1-0 at home and are now riding a three-match winning streak.
With 10 points secured in five games, Houston are up to fifth place in the Western Conference, trailing first-placed LA Galaxy by two points, while they also have a game in hand on most of the sides around them in the league table.
Ben Olsen's side showed their resilience and determination last weekend by coming back after going a goal down in the very first minute of the match to clinch a 2-1 win over the SJ Earthquakes, marking their 100th win at the Shell Energy Stadium in MLS competition.
Paraguayan international Sebastian Ferreira scored the equaliser for the Dynamos in his first start following injury before Franco Escobar netted his first of the season from a loose ball off an Amine Bassi corner, which the Earthquakes failed to clear adequately.
That result marked Houston's first come-from-behind triumph since a 2-1 victory at home over Austin in May last year, and they will now look to carry that form on the road, where they are gunning for a second consecutive away win following a 1-0 win over the Rapids a fortnight ago.
Team News
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Carlos Teran made his first start of the season in the loss to Atlanta last time out, and the defender will be back on the sidelines for this match after being sent off in the final six minutes of the match.
Defenders Chase Gasper, Andrew Gutman and Wyatt Omsberg are all unavailable due to respective leg injuries, while Xherdan Shaqiri is expected to return to the starting 11 after coming off the bench last week.
Amine Bassi picked up a slight knock in the Dynamo's win against the Earthquakes last week and has been flagged as a minor doubt for this match, along with Erik Sviatchenko, who is struggling with a tweaked hamstring.
In terms of confirmed absentees, Hector Herrera and Nelson Quinones will play no part in Sunday's trip to Chicago, with the pair ruled out due to knee injuries.
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Arigoni, Salquist, Czichos, Dean; Acosta, Gimenez; Haile-Selassie, Herbers, Gutierrez; Vuypers
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clarke; Dorsey, Steres, Micael, Escobar; Artur, Gregus; Carrasquilla, Bassi, Aliyu; Ferreira
We say: Chicago Fire 1-2 Houston Dynamo
Chicago have been struggling to find their best form this season and are coming off a very poor display against Atlanta last weekend. They now have to face a Houston side that are unbeaten in their last four in all competitions, are riding a three-match winning streak and will be brimming with confidence after their comeback win against the Earthquakes.
We fancy the hosts to get on the board here but feel that the visitors will outscore them by the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
