Three days after falling 2-1 to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, Chicago Fire head to Lumen Field with something to prove. Gregg Berhalter’s side remains third in the Eastern Conference with 36 points from 20 games, sitting comfortably in a playoff spot but aware that New England Revolution (34 pts) and Charlotte (32 pts) are pressing from below. The Fire need a reset game, and they are walking into a ground where Seattle Sounders have dropped four of their last five. This matchup carries weight for very different reasons on each side of the field.
What’s at stake
Chicago Fire sit third in the Eastern Conference, nine places and 11 points clear of the teams currently on the wrong side of the playoff line. That gap is comfortable but not locked in. New England (34 pts) and Charlotte (32 pts) are both inside the top nine and within striking distance. A win here would move the Fire to 39 points with games still to play and give Berhalter’s group breathing room heading into a stretch where their position could easily be tested.
For Seattle, the situation is more immediate. Thirteenth in the Western Conference with 25 points, the Sounders are four points adrift of the ninth and final playoff spot, with Minnesota United (28 pts), San Diego (27 pts), and the LA Galaxy (26 pts) all ahead of them. Four straight losses across all competitions coming into this game have put Brian Schmetzer’s side in a position where wins cannot come slowly. A home loss Saturday deepens a hole that, while not irreversible, is becoming harder to dismiss.
How they got here
Seattle’s last five results read: draw, loss, loss, loss, win. That solitary win came against Club Queretaro in the Leagues Cup on August 9. Since then, Guadalajara Chivas beat them at Lumen Field, Vancouver Whitecaps took three points there a week later, Austin won 2-1 at the same venue, and a road trip to Cincinnati ended 1-1. The goals against column tells a similar story: 27 conceded in 20 Western Conference games, the fourth-worst in the conference. Chicago’s last five in all competitions shows more variety. Back-to-back MLS wins over Portland (2-1 at home) and Orlando City (2-1 away) were followed by a draw at New York Red Bulls, then the Monterrey loss. The Fire have scored in each of their last five and lead scorer H. Cuypers sits third in the overall MLS scoring chart with 13 goals.
Chicago are third in the East with 36 points from 20 games. Seattle are 13th in the West with 25 points from 20 games. The gap between the Fire and the top of the Western Conference playoff picture they are traveling into is significant in terms of feel: they are playing a home side in freefall, not a rival jockeying for position.
Key battle to watch
Cuypers against the Seattle backline is the sharpest tactical angle here. The Fire striker has 13 MLS goals this season and has scored in road wins over Orlando and Portland in the last two weeks. Seattle have conceded 27 goals in 20 Western Conference games and have allowed goals in four consecutive home and away fixtures. Schmetzer’s defenders J. Ragen and N. Tolo will need to limit the space behind them, because Chicago have shown they can find it quickly, particularly when playing on the counter after conceding possession.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
Chicago arrive rattled from Monterrey but with the better form and the sharper attack. Seattle’s recent run at Lumen Field has been poor, and their defensive numbers give a team like the Fire real encouragement. Berhalter’s side is likely to control enough of this game to come away with at least a point, and with Cuypers in his current form, a road win is a genuine possibility. The Sounders may push early at home, but sustaining that over 90 minutes against this Chicago group looks difficult given where they are right now.
Chicago Fire
Seattle Sounders