SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. CHICAGO FIRE FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Chicago Fire are the visitors in Saturday night’s matchup between two of the most storied football cities in the nation. In the old NASL days, the Chicago Sting won two championships, in 1981 and 1984, which was the last season of the troubled league. Chicago Fire have won one MLS league title, an MLS Cup and four US Open Cups. Those successes being a far cry from the current iteration of the team that currently resides in the league table’s 27th place. Chicago haven’t won a domestic trophy since 2006. Former Sounders FC coach, Ante Razov, remains far and away Chicago Fire’s all-time top goal-scorer having hit 94 goals in all competitions.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. Chicago Fire FC.

Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 29 June 2024 CE.

At Stake: With a victory over Chicago, Sounders can rise as high as 12th place in the league. Should we be defeated, we might drop to 18th place. For those closely following MLS Cup qualification, Sounders are just outside the last cup berth in the Western pseudo-league, tied on points and goal difference with Vancouver. Vancouver currently wins that tie-breaker on league victories. Sounders FC are currently 17th place in the league on 25 points, 16 points adrift of leaders, Inter Miami.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. Remember you can listen to the KJR simulcast by selecting alternate audio in the control layer of the Apple TV app.

Where to Listen: 93.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

Time flies when you’re having a blast. I wonder how many times the NASL Sounders and Chicago Sting used to square off back in the day. Time and football wait for no person though, and here we are in 2024 facing Chicago Fire.

Sounders FC appear to have turned the corner on their lackluster 1-3-5 start to the season, and have returned to winning ways. Support, is as it always is, vital. If you can gather your mates and jam the Brougham End with your voices, it is always a very, very good thing. Failing this, we follow along on telly, and attempt to will the side to victory through sheer psychic force. Pubs, dwellings, houses, flats, boats, ships, you know how this works you rascally lot! Good on ye, and good on the Sounders FC for mending their form this mid-season. I’m fairly certain we can expect a wooly one, as Chicago are second-bottom in the league and teams with their backs to the wall are often dangerous adversaries.

It’s MLS football under the Saturday night lights of Royal Brougham Park. A clash of two titanic classic football cities. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS! GET IN!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

In theory and by the statistics and metrics, we beat Chicago definitively. In the reality of MLS…we’ll just have to see.

The Good News

Sounders on good form. You can’t argue with 5-4-2 in our last 11 matches. More of this, please.

We’re scoring goals again. Although our season average is 1.35 goals/match, we are scoring an average of 2.33 goals over our last three matches. The trend is upward, and I’m here for it.

Jordo looks keen to score lately, having scored four goals in his last four matches, and two in last week’s epic clap-back against the Dallas. More of this, please.

Alex and Pedro have been declared fit to play. The Gaffer said in a press conference on Friday that Alex has fully cleared the concussion protocols, and said that both Alex and Pedro will feature in Saturday night’s match. Hopefully Alex will have no lingering symptoms, and it will be good to see Pedro back after a long stretch where he was hampered by a severe hamstring issue.

Chicago has struggled mightily this season, and are missing Shaquiri, arguably their best player, who is currently in the team for Switzerland at UEFA Euro 2024.

On the basis of statistics and metrics, we should defeat Chicago definitively.

The Bad News

Hugo Cuypers plays for them not us. The Belgian forward, with an estimated transfer value of €10M, was a regular goal threat with both Mechelen and Gent. So Jackson and Yeimar are going to have their hands full.

Our swashbuckling comeback against the Dallas was breathtaking…but how did we manage to go down 0:2? Questions were asked of our defence, and we had no answers.

MLS’ Summer Transfer Window opens on 18 July. Are we buyers, sellers, or doing no business at all?

Despite statistical superiority over Chicago, MLS matches rarely conform to statistics and metrics.

Starting with the New England match, the schedule is going to be an absolute meat-grinder. Hopefully we can defeat both Chicago and New England and set our home form correct.

Although Chicago has had a miserable season generally, in recent days they doubled their victories total for the year defeating 3rd place LA Galaxy 2:1 at Soldier Field, and hitting four goals past Toronto on the road. Chicago are 2-2-1 in their last five and showing signs of life.

Sounders players at Euro 2024: Zero. Sounders players at Copa America: One.

The Side I Would Select

I think the team that finished the epic three-goal comeback, last Sat, played far stronger than the players that started it. That said, I like Ruidiaz coming off the bench.

Rationale: Baker-Whiting over Nouhou because everything good for the Sounders last match started five minutes after Reed entered the match. So we’ll let Nouhou have a rest as he’ll need it with five matches in a fortnight coming up starting with the New England match Saturday next. Cristian at right-back has been working, so no need to mess with that until Alex is fit enough to play 90 minutes. Rothrock has earned a chance in the team. Similar to Baker-Whiting’s insertion, the good things started to happen after Rothrock came on for Leo Chu. That isn’t to say that Leo isn’t a fine player, worthy of being in the team, and will be sorely needed during the absolutely battering schedule that looms ahead in a week’s time. I’ll have Musovski at right-forward. Danny is a decent goal-scorer in his own right, and can give way to Ruidiaz on the hour mark. Morris stays at the nine because he’s scoring goals.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Cristian

LDM    Joao Paulo

RDM    Vargas

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Musovski

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I’d imagine the team to be very similar if not exactly the same as the side we ran out against the Dallas. Expect de la Vega and Alex to come on as substitutes.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Cristian

LDM    Joao Paulo

RDM   Vargas

LF     Leo Chu

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Musovski

CF     Morris

Intangibles

The referee for Saturday night’s match will be Joe Dickerson.

Sounders FC record with Dickerson as referee: 8-1-6.

Chicago record with Dickerson as referee: 3-2-3.

General notes on personnel

Chicago transfers IN:

Gutman (Colorado Rapids) €417,000

Barlow (New York RB) €229,000

Salquist (Silkeborg IF) €1M

Casas - re-signed

Arigoni (FC Lugano) loan

Dowd - draft

Gasper (Houston Dynamo) undisclosed fee

Cuypers (Gent) €11M

Acosta (Los Angeles FC) free

Chicago transfers OUT:

Aceves (Pachuca) end of loan

Doumbia (FC Lugano) end of loan

Kamara (Los Angeles FC) free

Burks (San Antonio FC) free

Monis (Rio Grande Valley FC Toros) loan

Allan Rodriguez - released

Navarro (Colorado Rapids) undisclosed

Torres (FC Juarez) free

Przybylko (FC Lugano) fee undisclosed

Reynolds (FC Lugano) loan

Missael Rodriguez (Union Omaha) loan

Bezerra (Detroit City) loan

Comparison against common opponents

PHI 2:3 SEA

PHI 2:2 CHI

(against PHI: SEA 1-0-0 +1, CHI 0-1-0 0) edge SEA

SEA 5:0 MTL

CHI 4:3 MTL

(against MTL: SEA 1-0-0 +5, CHI 1-0-0 +1) edge SEA

HOU 2:2 SEA

CHI 2:1 HOU

(against HOU: SEA 0-1-0 0, CHI 1-0-0 +1) edge CHI

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

CHI 0:4 RSL

(against RSL: SEA 0-1-1 -2, CHI 0-0-1 -4) edge SEA

STL 1:2 SEA

STL 3:1 CHI

(against STL: SEA 1-0-0 +1, CHI 0-0-1 -2) edge SEA

DC 2:1 SEA

DC 1:1 CHI

(against DC: SEA 0-0-1 -1, CHI 0-0-1 0) edge CHI

LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG

CHI 2:1 LAG

(against LAG: SEA 0-1-1 -1, CHI 1-0-0 +1) edge CHI

Know Thine Enemy

Chicago as they lined up in their 4:2 defeat to Orlando on 22 June at Church Street.

GOALKEEPER

Chris Brady, 20

United States

Notable Clubs: Chicago Fire (49/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Chicago Fire. Has played for United States (14/0) at youth levels. Won the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with United States. Named USL League One Player of the Year while with Forward Madison FC. Named to CONCACAF U-20 Championship Best XI. Won Golden Glove at CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

DEFENCE

Allan Arigoni, 25

Switzerland

Notable Clubs: Grasshopper (80/3), FC Lugano (40/1), Chicago Fire (17/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by AS Riarena, Locarno, Bellinzona, FC Lugano, and Grasshopper.

Mauricio Pineda, 26

United States

Notable Clubs: Chicago Fire (119/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Chicago Fire. Played his university football at North Carolina (79/17).

Carlos Teran, 23

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Envigado (17/0), Chicago Fire (74/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Envigado. Has played at youth levels for Colombia (3/0).

Arnaud Soquet, 32

France

Notable Clubs: Lille (1/0), Paris FC (33/1), Mouscron (13/0), Dijon (27/0), Nice (55/1), Gent (31/0), Montpellier (93/4), Chicago Fire (36/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by CO Vincennois and Lille.

Jonathan Dean, 27

United States

Notable Clubs: Birmingham Legion (81/4), Chicago Fire (35/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €350,000

Notes: Developed by Stratford Academy and Georgia United. Played his university football at Wofford (17/1) and Central Florida (50/1). Named to USL Championship All-League Second Team 2022.

MIDFIELD

Kellyn Acosta, 28

United States (58/2)

Notable Clubs: Dallas (117/9), Colorado Rapids (79/7), Los Angeles FC (56/2), Chicago Fire (19/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by FC Dallas. Won a US Open Cup and MLS Championship double with FC Dallas in 2016. Won two CONCACAF Gold Cups and a CONCACAF Nations League with United States. Won MLS league and MLS Cup double in 2022 with LAFC.

Fabian Herbers, 30

Germany

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (53/4), Chicago Fire (141/14)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by FC Ottenstein, SuS Stadtlohn, FC Twente, and Preussen Munster. Played his university football at Creighton (62/28).

FORWARD

Brian Gutierrez, 21

United States

Notable Clubs: Chicago Fire (106/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Developed by Chicago Fire. Has played for United States (12/2) at youth levels.

Maren Haile-Selassie, 25

Switzerland

Notable Clubs: FC Zurich (7/0), Rapperswil-Jona (18/2), Neuchatel Xamax (41/6), FC Wil (35/7), Lugano (32/3), Chicago Fire (46/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by FC Zurich and FC Volketswil. Won a Swiss Cup with Lugano.

Hugo Cuypers, 27

Belgium

Notable Clubs: Standard Leige (1/0), Seraing (19/6), Olympiacos (10/1), Ajaccio (22/5), Mechelen (34/13), Gent (57/33), Chicago Fire (19/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €10M

Notes: Developed by FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal, Excelsior Veldwezelt, Vise, and Standard Liege. Won a Belgian Cup with Standard Leige. Won a Greek Super League title with Olympiacos. Named Super League Greece 2 Best Foreign Player 2017-18. Won the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot (27 goals) whilst playing for Gent in 2022-23.

Familiar Faces

Chicago goalkeeper Spencer Richey played for Washington Crossfire (8/0), Puget Sound Gunners (2/0), University of Washington (71/0), and Seattle Sounders FC (2/0).

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, de la Vega, Joao Paulo, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Leo Chu, Musovski, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Notes: Jonathan Bell is currently in the Jamaica squad at Copa America. Hawkins, Baker, and Leyva were all in the team for the Reserves midweek and are unlikely to be in the Sounders team on Saturday.

Chicago from:

Brady, Dowd, Gal, Richey, Arigoni, Czichos, Dean, Omsberg, Pineda, Souquet, Teran, Acosta, Casas, Gimenez, Gutierrez, Haile-Selassie, Herbers, Mueller, Oregal, Barlow, Bezerra, Cuypers, Glasgow, Koutsias, Rodriguez.

Note: Shaqiri is in the squad for Switzerland at the UEFA European Championship.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Rodrigues (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Chicago -

OUT: Gasper (leg), Gutman (leg), Navarro (leg), Salquist (leg).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

Chicago: No players suspended. Czichos and Herbers out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves defeated Real Salt Lake Reserves 3:0 at Starfire on 26 June breaking a three-match losing streak. Chris Aquino, Danny Leyva, and Osaze De Rosario scored for the Sounders FC Reserves. In the team for the Sounders FC Reserves were: Castro, Kossa-Rienzi, Lopez, Hawkins, Baker, Brunell, Leyva, Minoungou, Aquino, Sousa, De Rosario. Substitutes used: Gomez, Daroma, Bowen, Bettache, Tsukanome. Well done lads! You’re back on the right track!!!. The Sounders FC Reserves will host the Pacific Northwest Derby versus Portland Timbers 2 on Sunday 30 June. Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PDT at Starfire.