The Chicago Fire play host to the Philadelphia Union in an important match in the Eastern Conference. The Union looks to continue their playoff run against the Fire, while they just want to win and keep their pride alive. The last time these two teams met, Chicago won the first match at home 1-0. The Union would bounce back in the next match, winning 4-3. This match concludes the season series, as Chicago sit in 10th place in the East with 23 points. Meanwhile, the Union is currently in fourth 40 points.
Union looks for the leap
With a win against the Fire, and help with other teams this weekend, the Union can leap frog two teams and into second place. With help from rookies Roland Alberg, Keegan Rosenberry, and Fabian Herbers, the Union are the team to fear with their Cinderella run. The most recent win came against Sporting Kansas City at home. Goals from Tranquillo Barnetta and Alberg gave the Union much needed three points. If the recent form of the Union holds, they will make the playoffs for the second time in five years. The most recent were the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2011.
Chicago needs a win
Chicago, on the other hand, is just playing out the rest of the season. Chicago's recent match was a 6-2 beating by DC United. Razvan Cocis and Michael de Leeuw gave Chicago the consolation goals. DC United forward Patrick Mullins scored a hat trick to pull United ahead in the match. Although Chicago is last in the East, they won't go down without a fight. Recent results from Chicago, such as a 2-2 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and a 3-0 win against the Montreal Impact, show that they have the fight.
Players to keep an eye on for this match from the Union are the rookies. Alberg, Rosenberry, and Herbers have come up huge for the Union. Getting consistent minutes, and starting, these three alone could be the topic of discussion, if the Union were to make the playoffs today. Another player to keep an eye on would be midfielder Barnetta. A huge presence in the midfield, Barnetta is the playmaker that the Union needs. On the other hand, for Chicago, forward David Accam is most certainly the team MVP at the moment.
Here are the projected lineups for both teams. Starting with the home team, Chicago Fire. The Fire are coached by Veljko Paunovic.
Johnson;
Vincent--Meira--Campbell--Kappelhoff
Polster--Thiam
Solignac--Cocis--Goossens
de Leeuw
Here is the projected lineup for the Union. They are coached by Jim Curtain.
Blake;
Rosenberry--Yaro--Richie Marquez--Fabinho
Bedoya--Creavalle
Herbers--Barnetta--Pontius
C.J. Sapong
Prediction
Prediction: The Philadelphia Union are in great form, while Chicago is not. The match will be played out to a Union 3-1 win on the road.