Chicago Fire (1-2-2, 8th in East) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0-4-1, 11th in West)
The Fire play their second straight Canadian opponent in the Vancouver Whitecaps at SeatGeek Stadium on Friday night. Last Saturday, the Fire got a credible draw against Toronto FC at BMO Field and Nemanja Nikolic got on the score sheet for the first time in 2019.
Mo Adams continues to shine in defensive midfield while the back four with Bastian Schweinsteiger is still serviceable despite allowing a pair of goals against Toronto. Nico Gaitan is still working his way into 90 minute-match fitness.
Vancouver has the looks of an expansion team (not in MLS) and is in full “Trust the Process” mode as they have started 0-4-1 and have been shut out three times already this season. The Whitecaps had 18 new players come in and 21 players depart during the offseason.
Whitecaps head coach Marc dos Santos does not want “trust the process” as much as he wants his team to start winning now.
“We can say that there’s lack of finishing, there’s lack of opportunities, but the team has shown growth in every game. Yes, it’s a process. Is the team going to be stronger in 2020? Absolutely,” said Dos Santos to the Vancouver Province. “(But) for me as a coach … the club chose the wrong guy if they want a guy that says ‘no, it’s a process, we have to stay patient …’ I’m not. I want to win now. I want this to happen now.”
The Whitecaps’ last visit to SeatGeek Stadium (neé Toyota Park) in 2017 ended in a 4-0 whitewash.
Make no two ways about this. This is a winnable game for the Fire and they can show some proof of improvement by getting all three points. If the Whitecaps do come away with at least a point, more questions will be asked of the Fire than of the Whitecaps.
Kickoff is at 7:30pm CT on ESPN+ in the US and TSN 1/3/4 in Canada.
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
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS:
OUT: M – Michael Baldisimo (left ankle contusion)
OUT: D – Jasser Khmiri (left knee injury)
OUT: M – Andy Rose (facial fracture)
OUT: M – David Norman Jr. (right foot surgery 4/5, out 3-4 months)
Referee: Jair Maruffo
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jose Da Silva
4th Official: Ismir Pekmic
VAR: Daniel Radford
LAST YEAR:
7/07/18: VAN 3-2 CHI
