Montreal Impact (4-3-2, 3rd in East) vs. Chicago Fire (2-3-3, 8th in East)
The Chicago Fire continue their travels North of the Border against the Montreal Impact for a Sunday matinee. Montreal will be playing just their second home game this season, but have done quite well away from Stade Saputo going 3-3-2 in that time and begin the weeken second in the Eastern Conference.
Ignacio Piatti is still listed as out due to a knee injury. Anthony Jackson-Hamel is very much available after scoring a brace last week at New England in a 3-0 victory as well as Saphir Taider.
Meanwhile, the Fire will be without coach Veljko Paunoivc after he was ordered from the technical area for dissent last Wednesday against New York City FC. Assistants Marko Mitrovic and Eric Gehrig are expected to deputize in his absence.
The Fire’s attack failed to get a shot on goal at Yankee Stadium and were beaten by an NYCFC counter in the ninth minute of the match (one of two shots on target for the hosts). Montreal’s pitch should be more comfortable for the Fire in that it’s more like a soccer pitch.
The attack needs to be much more active on Sunday if the Fire are to have a chance in this one and the defense must realize that the Impact have at least a couple more options in attack besides Piatti in Jackson-Hamel, Taider, and Maxi Urruti.
Kickoff is at 11:30am CT on ESPN+ in the US and on TVAS in Canada.
INJURIES:
MONTREAL IMPACT:
OUT: Ken Krolicki (M) – dislocated right elbow
OUT: Ignacio Piatti (M) – knee injury
CHICAGO FIRE:
OUT: D – Andre Reynolds II (thigh injury)
OUT: M – Raheem Edwards (knee injury)
OUT: F – Fabian Herbers (groin injury)
QUESTIONABLE: M – Aleksandar Katai (knee injury)
QUESTIONABLE: D – Marcello (thigh injury)
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistant Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Matthew Nelson
4th Official: Mark Allatin
VAR: Caleb Mendez
LAST YEAR:
5/09/18: CHI 1-0 MTL
8/18/18: MTL 2-1 CHI
