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On the heels of seven consecutive league matches against fellow Eastern Conference sides, the Chicago Fire (4-9-2, 14 points) play the first of two straight against Western Conference foes when they pay a visit to Houston Dynamo (5-7-5, 20 points) Friday night.
The match begins at 8 p.m. CT and will air live on Univision Deportes. For details on where to find Univision Deportes on your cable system and how to access an English-language broadcast of the match, visit MLSsoccer.com/SAP.
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FIRE MOVE ON IN U.S. OPEN CUP
Mike Magee recorded a brace, Lovel Palmer provided an assist and a stellar go-ahead goal and Patrick Nyarko thrilled in his return to match action as the Chicago Fire defeated Charlotte Independence 3-1 Tuesday at Toyota Park in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Chicago, in the hunt for a fifth all-time U.S. Open Cup title, will host a quarterfinal match Wednesday, July 22 against Orlando City SC after the Floridian squad defeated the Columbus Crew 2-0 in earlier action.
For Magee, the goals were the 27th and 28th he has scored in 49 games played as a member of the Men In Red, moving him into a tie with Damani Ralph (2003-04) for sixth-most in club history. Nyarko, meanwhile, now stands at 201 career games played for the Fire, placing him eighth on Chicago's all-time ledger. The two veterans connected for the Fire's third goal in the 82nd minute, with Nyarko using his first chance on the ball to split two Charlotte defenders and feed Magee for a classy one-time finish.
CHICAGO FIRE at HOUSTON DYNAMO
– Chicago and Houston meet for the first time this season and the 21st time in their respective histories (MLS regular season). Houston leads the series 8-5-7 with a 5-2-3 home record. The Fire have yet to beat Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium, which opened in 2012.
– An April 13 trade between Chicago and Houston means familiar faces on each bench Friday night in the form of the Fire's Jason Johnson and Houston midfielder Alex. Alex made 84 appearances and 53 starts in all competitions for the Fire from 2012-15 and has featured in two league matches for his new side. Johnson has appeared in six MLS matches since joining the Fire and scored his first goal for the club with the 94th-minute equalizer at Columbus on May 22.
– Three days after being named Man of the Match in Chicago’s U.S. Open Cup win over Charlotte Independence, defender Lovel Palmer returns to the city where he began his MLS career. Palmer appeared in 52 games for the Dynamo from 2011-12 during which he started 45 times and tallied five goals and an assist.
– Veteran Houston and U.S. Men's National Team defender DaMarcus Beasley will meet his former team Friday when the Fire come to town. Beasley was a two-time MLS All-Star during his stint with Chicago from 2000-04, helping them win the U.S. Open Cup in 2000 and 2003. He recorded 18 goals and 28 assists in 134 appearances across all competitions.
Notes and Quotes:
– Chicago head coach Frank Yallop would like Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup victory over Charlotte Independence to serve as a springboard heading back into MLS play. “I’m hoping this is a turning point, and then we can come out with a good result on Friday,” Yallop said. “It’s a tough game.”
– David Accam (hamstring) and Shaun Maloney (back) will remain sidelined Friday with their respective injuries. Joevin Jones also is unavailable for the Fire having departed to Trinidad and Tobago's national team camp in preparation for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
– Lovel Palmer is questionable for Friday’s match after being taken off with “a bit of a tight groin” late in Tuesday’s win, according to Yallop. “We’ll see how he’s doing,” Yallop added Tuesday night.
Opponent Profile:
Record: 5-7-5, 20 points
Last four matches: 1-3-1, 4 points
Goals leader: Will Bruin (7)
Assists leader: Brad Davis (4)
Saves leader: Tyler Deric (44)
Numbers To Know:
3.3 – Shots per game for Houston forward Giles Barnes. Friday’s match against Chicago will be the Jamaican striker’s last before he heads to the Gold Cup -- this after featuring in all three matches for Jamaica during the Copa America group stage. And even with his ruthlessness in front of net, Barnes’ six goals don’t even lead the team. Will Bruin has seven.
3.2 – Shots on target per game for Houston, fewest in MLS. Compare that to a more reasonable 12.2 shots per game, which ranks 11th. Like Chicago, the Dynamo have done well to create chances for themselves, but the finishing touch has been lacking.
Keep An Eye On: Raúl Rodríguez. The Spanish defender has been very solid since joining Houston from La Liga side Espanyol. He has moved the ball well out of the back and is an athletic player capable of making impressive tackles. Normally a center back, Rodríguez has made appearances at right back. Should he be in that position Friday, it will be interesting to see who on the Fire will push forward and try to make him uncomfortable in a spot at which he’s not too familiar. With no Joevin Jones, the answer becomes less clear.
