Sunday afternoon the Chicago Fire will host the Philadelphia Union in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2 (5 pm EDT). Both teams have struggled so far this season, with only the Union picking up points in draws against Colorado and Real Salt Lake. Chicago is off to its worst start ever, losing all three matches so far this season. This is an important game for both teams, as it is an Eastern Conference game and teams don’t want to drop points against conference rivals.
Both teams will be missing key players for this game. Chicago will be without Mike Magee and Patrick Nyarko due to long-term injuries, as well as new designated players Shaun Maloney (Scotland) and David Accam (Ghana) due to national team duties. Philadelphia will be without several important players as well. Right back Sheanon Williams is set to miss out with a hamstring injury will playmaker Cristian Maidana still has a brace on his knee and will also miss the game. Also out with injuries will be forwards C.J. Sapong (fractured cheekbone) and Conor Casey (sports hernia), while Zach Pfeffer is suspended the next two matches due to a red card last week against Dallas. Pfeffer had replaced Maidana in the lineup.
Even with all these absences there are still some players to watch. Chicago still has Harry Shipp and Quincy Amarikwa leading the attack. Unfortunately, not much has gone right in Frank Yallop’s rebuilding of the club. Injuries and inconsistent play have hurt the club. The same can be said for the Union, who will still have newcomer Fernando Aristeguieta at forward, along with Andrew Wenger and Sebastien LeToux. Wenger and LeToux have struggled so far, which has really hurt the Union’s attack and left Aristeguieta isolated up top. The Union also still have Maurice Edu in midfield and he has been strong so far from his defensive midfield position.
Chicago will want to hold possession as much as possible to try and frustrate the Union into taking bad fouls. This would also limit the opportunities for the Union to break forward on the attack and create chances off the counter, which is what they like to do. Philadelphia will look to take advantage of a weakened Fire and look to jump on them early so they can settle the game down and take control. The longer they let Chicago hang around, the more likely it will be that Chicago steals at least a point. The last time these two teams played ended in disaster for the Union and helped eliminate them from the playoff race when goalie Rais M’Bolhi inexplicably booted a weak clearance to Robert Earnshaw, who scored the tying goal in the 89th minute. Philadelphia will be hoping to avoid a similar fate on Sunday.