The Chicago Fire will travel to BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas tomorrow for a crucial battle in the race for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Houston Dynamo enter in eighth place in the East while Chicago enters in ninth place in the East. Although both teams are near the basement in the East, Houston sits just seven points out of the final playoff spot and Chicago is only nine out.
With just six matches remaining in the schedule for both of these teams, maximum points here are a must. Chicago enters in off a 3-3 draw against DC United. Last Saturday at Toyota Park, Chicago took a 2-0 lead on the league leaders before a pair of horrendous refereeing decisions cost them two points. Nevertheless, it should provide something for them to build off of, and if they are able to replicate that performance it will be very difficult for Houston to pick up points in this one.
Houston enters this one off a draw at US Open Cup finalists Philadelphia Union. Last week, the Union entered the match after their loss to Seattle in the Cup Final, and a depleted Union side were unable to score. Houston, however, were unable to break the deadlock in that one. In fact, the Dynamo were dominated in that game. They were unable to even muster a shot on target, and must be ruing that missed chance against a below-strength Philadelphia side.
This will be the first time these two meet this season, and they will play each other again on the final day of the season. During the 2013 season across their three match-ups, the Dynamo took five points off the team from the Windy City. The Dynamo hold the all-time edge in this game with a 7-4-7 record (W-L-D).
The Fire will be forced to play this one far below full strength. Captain and reigning MLS MVP Mike Magee has struggled for fitness all season, and after having surgery two weeks ago is out for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, defensive stalwarts Lovel Palmer and Bakary Soumare are both suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Meanwhile, the Dynamo enter closer to full strength with their only notable absentee starting goalkeeper Tally Hall. Hall will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL sustained more than three weeks ago, and defender Corey Ashe is still out while striker Will Bruin could make his return from a foot sprain.
Projected Starting XI's
Houston Dynamo: Deric, Sarkodie, Horst, Cochran, Beasley, Driver, Garcia, Clark, Davis, Cummings, Bruin
Chicago Fire: Johnson, Pause, Ianni, Larentowicz, Segares, Ward, Cocis, Watson, Shipp, Alex, Amarikwa
Prediction:
Houston Dynamo 2 Chicago Fire 2
The fact that both sides desperately need points to get back into the playoff conversation means they will both have to attack. Chicago looked excellent going forward against DC United, and look good value to pick up a goal or two but without Soumare and Palmer look shaky at the back. Both sides have drawn their last two matches, and this looks like another one. Goals from Harry Shipp, Quincy Amarikwa, Will Bruin and Brad Davis will ensure a third straight draw.