Chicago Fire gameday

Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire: Gameday Guide and How to Watch

The Fire are looking for their first road victory of 2021

By Patrick McCraney@patrickmccraney Aug 1, 2021, 9:09am CDT

MLS: Atlanta United FC at Chicago Fire — Bobby Shuttleworth celebrates after the recent win over Atlanta United

After two regular season matchups and a preseason contest so far in 2021, it’s safe to say the Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union know each other quite well at this point.

The Union beat the Fire 2-0 at Soldier Field in May, and the two teams played to a 3-3 draw in Chicago in June. Philly’s Cory Burke scored in both of those matches.

“They’re dangerous,” Fire goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth said. “They have some big boys up top. They have a system that they play really well. We have to be wary of that, we know what we’re getting ourselves into.”

Fire coach Raphael Wicky is back on the sideline tonight, after missing the last three matches to deal with a health emergency involving his dad in Switzerland. Fire captain Francisco Calvo is also back with the team after spending the last month with Costa Rica at the Gold Cup. With Jonathan Bornstein playing so well on the left side of the 3-5-2 in Calvo’s absence, it will be interesting to see if Wicky immediately slots Calvo back into the lineup.

Stats that might make you happy or sad, depending on how you look at them:

Incredibly, the Fire now lead all of MLS in chances created, with 183, sitting ahead of both the New England Revolution (177) and Sporting Kansas City (173). The Fire are also second in the league in total shots, with 181. Robert Beric leads the team with 32 shots, but has just two goals all season. Bobby Shuttleworth is third in MLS in saves, and first in the Eastern Conference, with 56.

Watch Out

Both Álvaro Medrán and Fabian Herbers are one yellow card away from a suspension for yellow card accumulation.