The Seattle Sounders return home after a huge win on the road this past weekend over the LA Galaxy. The Sounders will host the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, September 28th. With a win, the Sounders will be tied for the sixth and final playoff spot with the Portland Timbers.
Last time out
The Sounders went down early on a Robbie Keane goal in the 20th minute against the Galaxy. 15 minutes later, the Sounders were gifted a goal after Galaxy center back Jelle Van Damme scored an own goal off of a Sounders corner kick. The Sounders would score three of their own goals in the second half to beat the Galaxy at the StubHub Center for the first time since 2009. Jordan Morris scored two goals (63’ & 74’) and Osvaldo Alonso put the game away with his screamer of a goal in the 78th minute.
The Fire are coming into Seattle after losing 4-1 on the road to New York City FC this past Friday. Chicago gave up two goals in the first ten minutes of the game against New York City (Jefferson Mena 8’ & David Villa 9’). Chicago would get one back in the 35th minute on a goal from Luis Solignac but that would be the end of the scoring for the Fire. They would concede two more goals, in the 44th minute and 83rd minute, when Steven Mendoza and Villa salted the game away for the home team.
Last meeting
The last time these two played each other was back on July 11, 2015, when Jason Johnson scored the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time (90’+2’). The Sounders best chance of the game came in the 45th minute when Cristian Roldan’s shot hit the crossbar that would have given the visitors a 1-0 lead. That win last year in Chicago for the Fire was the first time that they had ever beaten Seattle across all competitions.
Keys to the game
Morris will be one that the Fire need to keep an eye on for the entire 90 minutes. These last few weeks he has been playing out of his mind. He has clearly improved since the beginning of the season and he leads the Sounders with 12 goals. Nicolás Lodeiro will need to be watched closely as well. Since he arrived in Seattle, he has improved their quality of play and made them as dangerous as any team in MLS.
Seattle will need to be weary of David Accam. The speedster leads the fire with eight goals and can beat almost anyone on the pitch with his speed. The Fire usually employ a 4-2-3-1 formation with Accam on the left wing. The Sounders midfield will need to keep him in check and not let him beat them on his own.
Prediction
The Sounders have lost only one game in their last nine times out on the pitch and have a record of 5-1-3 in those nine game. Chicago has won only two of their last nine games and have a record of 2-4-3 and haven’t won a game in their last three time out.
Seattle knows that a win will put them in a tie with the Timbers for the sixth and final playoff spot with one game in hand. Expect the Sounders to put out a strong lineup as three points are required at all cost. Chicago currently sits in last place in the Eastern Conference and realistically have nothing to play for in this game other than playing spoiler. The Sounders have to win all of their remaining home games if they want to make the playoffs. Chicago has won only one road game all year (1-11-2) and don’t expect them to leave Seattle with a win. Seattle is clearly the better team of the two and you can expect them to show it on the field Wednesday night in Seattle.