Like a lot of MLS clubs this time of year, the Chicago Fire are settling into a rhythm where the games come fast and furious, each one with plenty at stake. The next test on the calendar comes Saturday (June 2) when the Fire step out of conference to host the San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Park (7:30 PM, TICKETS).
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Get caught up on some of the key storylines in the Saturday night affair:
Roll Call
The Fire continue to claim one of the lengthier injury reportsin MLS and Wednesday in Philadelphia saw the early return of one key Fire attacker and the notable absence of another. Luis Solignac played his first minutes since March 17 when he came off the bench in the 64th minute, working his way back from a quad injury that saw him miss 10 consecutive matches. Nemanja Nikolić, meanwhile, did not travel to Philly and thus missed an MLS start for the first time since joining the Fire prior to the start of the 2017 season (46 games), citing a knock to his ankle. Stay tuned on Saturday to see if Veljko Paunović is able to include two of his reliable veteran forwards when filling out his starting XI.
Setting the Scene
As the two sides come together for their annual meeting, they do so level with 18 goals scored this season and both just a touch below 50 percent average possession on the year, placing them in the middle of the pack in MLS for the season. First-year San Jose manager Mikael Stahre saw his side finish with a 1-3-1 record in the month of May, but have lost their last two after being shut out by the LA Galaxy last Saturday. The Quakes also will be without two regular starters in midfielder Anibal Godoy and defender Harold Cummings, both of whom earned a place on Panama's final roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Groningen Guys
Much of the Chicago Fire's defensive attention will likely focus on Quakes leading goal-scorer Danny Hoesen (6 goals, 2 assists), who is no stranger to Fire centerback Johan Kappelhof. The two were teammates along with Michael de Leeuw(who continues to recover from a torn ACL) with FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie. With MLS scoring great Chris Wondolowski (136 career league goals) having featured as a reserve in three of the last four matches, Hoesen has figured as a centerpiece of San Jose's attacking efforts with midfielders Vako and Magnus Eriksson ranking No. 2 and 3 on the team behind Hoesen in shots and shots on goal this season.
History Lesson
Chicago leads the all-time series against San Jose by a 15-10 margin with 11 draws, having won each of the last two meetings. Most recently, the Fire traveled to Avaya Stadium last September and recorded a cracking 4-1 victory, with Nemanja Nikolić notching a second-half brace to help the Fire clinch their place in the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Fire are 9-2-6 at home in their history against the Quakes, with San Jose's only wins in Chicago coming in 1999 and 2002.
