Chicago Fire (1-2-3, 8th in East) vs. Colorado Rapids (0-5-2, 11th in West)
The last of the noon kickoffs for the Chicago Fire is on Holy Saturday as they take on the Colorado Rapids. The Fire are looking for just their second win on the season before three successive road games in the next pair of weeks.
Last week, the Fire could not break down a Whitecaps defense and only got a break when VAR gave them a penalty kick to finish with a 1-1 draw. The Fire now face another winless team in Colorado (0-5-2) who currently have a 0% record away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The Rapids have lost four on the bounce with their last point was on St. Patrick’s Day against Sporting Kansas City. Despite six goals in the last three matches, they have conceded eleven. Their 19 goals conceded is worst in MLS. However, only six teams have scored more than the Rapids’ 11.
Eight teams have scored less than the Fire, but you would not know that given that seven of the eight goals for the Fire have come in the second half of matches. They have led for a grand total of 61 minutes and have conceded first in four of their first six matches.
Much as the Vancouver match was winnable, this match should be more so as they are playing a Rapids side whose defense has been charitable at the start of the season. They need to find a way to get past the defense and Tim Howard early and maybe often as Colorado can score goals as well.
Anything less than three points against this team would require questions be asked of Veljko Paunovic and his team as improvements will not be visible absent a win here.
Kickoff is at 12:00pm CT on ESPN+.
INJURIES:
CHICAGO FIRE:
OUT: Andre Reynolds II (D) – thigh injury
OUT: Jorge Corrales (D) – groin injury
OUT: Raheem Edwards (M) – knee injury
OUT: Przemyslaw Frankowski (M) – groin injury
OUT: Fabian Herbers (F) – groin injury
COLORADO RAPIDS:
OUT: Kortne Ford (D) – knee injury
Referee: Dave Gantar
Assistant Referees: Apolinar Mariscal, Chris Wattam
4th Official: Tim Ford
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
LAST YEAR:
6/13/18: COL 2-2 CHI
Chicago Fire
Colorado Rapids
