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Toronto FC
Major League Soccer
Jun 1, 2023 at 12.30am UK
BMO Field
Chicago Fire

Toronto
0 - 0
Chicago Fire


Kaye (45+3')
FT

Navarro (33')

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

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Major League Soccer clash between Toronto and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

After ending a five-match winless run in all competitions last weekend, it will be a quick turnaround for Toronto, who play host to the Chicago Fire at BMO Field on Wednesday.

The Reds held off a late charge by DC United to win 2-1 in their previous MLS encounter, while Chicago squandered a second-half advantage, drawing the New England Revolution 3-3.


Match preview

Toronto FC forward Deandre Kerr (29) celebrates after scoring a goal on May 28, 2023© Reuters

For now, the heat is off Bob Bradley as the TFC boss was under heavy scrutiny from all sides during the Reds' four-match MLS losing run.

On Saturday, they put their differences aside for 90 minutes with numerous players stepping up to have a big game, according to their coach.

Before that victory, Toronto had gone without a goal in three straight domestic affairs, scoring multiple strikes for the first time since the middle of April.

The Reds have only lost once in eight domestic home fixtures this season, though they have dropped four points when leading in the second half this year at BMO Field.

While they have struggled to put games to bed throughout the year, TFC have never lost when scoring the opening goal, winning their last two matches after doing exactly that.

Their quality at home versus Chicago has been exceptional throughout the past few seasons, scoring 19 goals in their previous six matches played against them in Toronto and without a defeat to the Fire at BMO Field since 2012.

Chicago Fire FC defender Rafael Czichos (5) celebrates with forward Kei Kamara (23) after scoring on May 13, 2023© Reuters

A week after rescuing a point in the latter stages versus Atlanta United (3-3), the shoe was on the other foot for the Fire in New England last weekend as they conceded the equalising goal five minutes after going in front.

That was the second time in their last three domestic encounters under interim boss Frank Klopas that they failed to win after going up 1-0, while they have now conceded eight goals beyond the 75th minute this year in seven fixtures.

Since Klopas took charge earlier this month, the Fire have suffered only one defeat in six matches, beating Austin FC 2-0 at the US Open Cup last Wednesday, their first road victory in any competitive fixture since a 3-2 win at Inter Miami in late March.

That US Open Cup triumph against Austin was the only time in 2023 that Chicago had not conceded on the road, while they have given up multiple strikes in four successive MLS encounters away from home.

As we have become accustomed to saying over the past few years, Chicago find themselves outside the playoff picture at the moment, though their 16 points so far is five more than they accumulated at this same stage a year ago.

The Fire have been feeble defensively at BMO of late, conceding three goals in five of their last six trips there, including their previous match when they squandered a 2-1 lead, giving up two in the final 20 minutes and losing 3-2.

Toronto Major League Soccer form:

Toronto form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:


Chicago Fire form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D



Team News

Toronto FC head coach Bob Bradley looks on before the game between the Atlanta United and the Toronto FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 4, 2023© Reuters

After indirectly calling out his coach earlier this month, Federico Bernardeschi was dropped from the Toronto squad on Saturday, with Bob Bradley calling it a coach's decision, while Victor Vazquez, Sigurd Rosted, Jonathan Osorio, Shane O'Neill, Adama Diomande, Alonso Coello Camarero and Michael Bradley were all missing over the weekend with lower body injuries.

Deandre Kerr and Kosi Thompson found the mark for the Reds versus DC, with the latter scoring his first of the campaign, while Lorenzo Insigne played a big part in the victory, assisting on both goals, winning seven duels and making four key passes.

Kerr also scored when they last hosted Chicago in the regular season, with former midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo notching a second-half brace in that narrow victory from 2022.

The Fire were missing several regulars on Saturday against the Revs, with Jonathan Dean (upper leg), Carlos Teran (right knee), Justin Reynolds (left upper leg), Chris Mueller (hip), Sergio Oregel (right lower leg) and Victor Bezerra (left upper leg) all sidelined with injuries, while Federico Navarro and Fabian Herbers were both suspended.

In his first-ever MLS start, Georgios Koutsias scored for just the second time in a Fire uniform, with an own-goal from Andrew Farrell putting them up by two and Maren Haile-Selassie scoring his third of this competition, while fellow Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri collected an assist for the third match running.

Jairo Torres was back in the starting 11 for Chicago, his first appearance since leaving their match against New York City FC due to a first-half injury, Kei Kamara picked up his first assist as a member of the Fire and Chris Brady made his 12th start between the sticks, conceding six goals in his last two domestic affairs.

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Laryea, Hedges, Mabika, Franklin; Thompson, Kaye, Antonoglou; Kerr, Akinola, Insigne

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Teran, Pineda, Czichos, Aceves; Haile-Selassie, F. Navarro, Gimenez; Shaqiri; Przybylko, Kamara


SM words green background

We say: Toronto 3-2 Chicago Fire

When these sides square off, it tends to be a high-scoring affair, as they have each found the back of the net in five of their previous six meetings.

The deciding factor in this one for us will be Sean Johnson, who has not had much help from his backline but has made big saves when called upon, whereas Brady in the Chicago goal has been poor throughout the campaign.

How to watch

You can watch Toronto vs. Chicago Fire and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Toronto vs Chicago Fire

Toronto
63.6%
Draw
18.2%
Chicago Fire
18.2%
11
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami32208472472568
2Columbus Crew31169662362657
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati321751055441156
4Orlando City32147115547849
5New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls32111475245747
6New York City FCNY City32138115146547
7Charlotte FCCharlotte FC32129114137445
8CF MontrealMontreal321010124662-1640
9Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia32910135950937
10DC United32910135066-1637
11Toronto33114184060-2037
12Atlanta UnitedAtlanta32810144247-534
13Nashville SCNashville3289153451-1733
14New England RevolutionNew England3194183462-2831
15Chicago Fire3379174059-1930

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy32187766471961
2Los Angeles FCLos Angeles31167855411455
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake321411762471553
4Seattle SoundersSeattle32158949341553
5Houston DynamoHouston32149945351051
6Colorado RapidsColorado32155125956350
7Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver31138105044647
8Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd32137125348546
9Portland TimbersPortland32129116455945
10Austin FCAustin32109133544-939
11Dallas32107155255-337
12St Louis City32713124659-1334
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3287175061-1131
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3263234074-3421


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