MATCH INFO |
|
|---|---|
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
Chicago Fire (6-12-4, 22 points) at Philadelphia Union (6-13-5, 23 points) |
<strong>Date</strong> |
Sunday, August 16 • 6 p.m. CT |
<strong>Location</strong> |
PPL Park; Chester, Pa. |
<b>Watch</b> |
FOX Sports 1 |
<strong>Radio</strong> |
ESPN Deportes 97.5 FM Chicago |
There’s a measure of revenge to be exacted by the Chicago Fire when the Men In Red remain on the road to face the Philadelphia Union at 6 p.m. CT Sunday at PPL Park. The MLS regular season match comes just four days after the Union eliminated Chicago from the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 victory on their home turf.
Sunday’s match represents one half of MLS’ Soccer Sunday coverage and will air nationally on FOX Sports 1. Seattle Sounders FC and Orlando City SC square off in the lead half of the Soccer Sunday doubleheader, with ESPN2 carrying the match live from Seattle beginning at 4 p.m. CT.
LISTEN: Chicago Fire Weekly
CHICAGO FIRE VS. PHILADELPHIA UNION
• Since Wednesday’s unsavory defeat, the Chicago Fire have taken the opportunity to remain in Philadelphia and recalibrate their focus on a run to an Eastern Conference playoff position. Ideally, such a run would start Sunday against a Union team which sits one point in front of Chicago in the standings, with two additional matches under their belt.
• After a U.S. Open Cup match which Shaun Maloney termed disjointed at times, Frank Yallop will be counting on improved link-up play by his attacking selections on Sunday. Designated Player Gilberto is questionable to appear in the match after suffering a thigh contusion in his Fire debut Wednesday, while David Accam figures to be available after playing 58 minutes in the Cup semifinal.
• Midfielder Matt Watson was on the bench for Frank Yallop in Wednesday's Open Cup match but has since returned to Chicago to serve out the second match of his two-game suspension issued following his red card received against FC Dallas on Aug. 2. By contrast, defender Ty Harden was ineligible in Open Cup play after being previously cup-tied to the San Jose Earthquakes, but joined the Men In Red in Philadelphia and is available for selection Sunday night.
• Chicago is unbeaten (2-0-3) in its last five MLS regular season meetings with Philadelphia and 5-5-4 all-time in the regular season series. Both sides have scored a total of nine goals at home and seven on the road in the 14 all-time fixtures.
• Goalkeeper Sean Johnson is poised to play his 149th career regular season match for the Fire Sunday, which would move him to within two of matching current Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin for 12th on the club's all-time list.
• Philadelphia managed a scoreless draw in its most recent MLS match on Aug. 8 to put an end to a three-match losing skid, all of which came at the hands of fellow Eastern Conference sides. Philadelphia last earned the full three points against an Eastern Conference club back on June 3, a 3-0 home win over Columbus Crew SC.
REFEREE: Mark Geiger. AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Danny Thornberry; 4th: Baldomero Toledo
MLS Career: 140 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 34; pens: 44
SUSPENDED: PHI: None ... CHI: Matt Watson
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHI: Eric Gehrig
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: PHI: Vincent Nogueira, Eric Ayuk Mbu, Sebastien Le Toux, Fernando Aristeguieta … CHI: Chris Ritter, Adailton, Matt Polster
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
