Preview: Colorado Rapids versus Chicago Fire

The Chicago Fire will look to win just their second game in Colorado since 2000. The Fire are 1-8-7 since the turn of the century with the only win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park coming in 2009.

The Fire have inched closer to the red line. They would have gotten over that line had they held on to a 1-0 lead against New England. They didn’t and now they are still one point out of sixth place. Despite what he saw was a better effort last Saturday compared to the previous home match against San Jose, dropping two points was still painful.

“It’s painful because I think the majority of the time we controlled the game, not always with the ball, but we controlled in our defensive shape sometimes,” said Paunovic. “All the effort and the matchups we had on the different positions on the field were great. I think [it was a]huge, huge performance from the team and it hurts a lot when you, obviously, drop two points this way, but it happens and that’s part of the game.”

The Fire may have a chance to win in Colorado, who have lost nine on the bounce in all competitions including an Open Cup loss against Nashville SC of USL. That is a franchise worst and they are currently bottom of the league on just eight points. They will be without Yannick Boli who picked up a red card in the 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. Jack Price leads MLS with six yellow cards this season. Only six players had ten or more last season.

There are two ways to look at this match. For the Fire, it is a chance to get a road win against the worst team in MLS. For the Rapids, it is a chance to get a much-needed win against an inconsistent Fire squad who has won just once in Colorado since 2000. There is a third view which will please no one and that is a draw that helps neither’s cause.

Kickoff is at 8pm on ESPN+ in Chicago and the Nation and Altitude in Colorado.

COL:  Yannick Boli

CHI:  Johan Kappelhof, Kevin Ellis

COLORADO RAPIDS—OUT:  D – Kortne Ford (left MCL sprain), D – Axel Sjoberg (concussion)

CHICAGO FIRE–OUT: M – Djordje Mihailovic (right ACL surgery), F – Michael de Leeuw (left ACL surgery), D – Matt Polster (MCL surgery), GK – Patrick McLain (hamstring injury); QUESTIONABLE: M – Jon Bakero (right ankle injury), F – Elliot Collier (left gastroc injury)

Referee:  JC Rivero

4th Official:  Nima Saghafi

VAR:  Younes Marrakech

5/17/07:  CHI 3-0 COL