Struggling Chicago Fire will be hoping to pull off an upset when they welcome high-flying Sporting KC in the upcoming league round. It’s 11th vs 3rd and the home crowd will have moderate expectations.
There has not been much time to rest for the guests, as they played a Major League Soccer game only three days ago. That game was also an away game, at Dallas. It will be interesting to see if they are fully ready and rested for this match, and/or if some changes in the lineup is necessary.
Everyone involved with the away team has to get their travel gear ready for this match as there's a whopping 800 kilometers to cover before arriving at the match.
Chicago Fire form and stats
The story so far in the Major League Soccer for Chicago Fire at their home stadium (Soldier Field) is 5 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. Chicago are on a three game winning streak in their home games.
Chicago's last game was hosting DC United (placed 14th) and winning 2-1. A defeat was the result before that one, 0-1 away at Sporting KC.
Chicago goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth did an outstanding job against DC United with six saves, so vital to securing the victory.
The bookmakers consider this a fairly even contest. One could say only the home advantage separates the teams. It could be relevant to look at how Chicago have performed in matches similar to this (as small favourites). Our database has found nine matches with the results: Won two, drawn three and lost four.
Chicago have proved capable of finding the net in their games here at Soldier Field with 16 goals in 9 league matches. It's worth mentioning that 8 of these goals has been scored in their last three home matches. 10 goals have been conceded. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only 1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 home matches.
Sporting KC form and stats
Playing away, Sporting KC have won 4 games, drawn 1 and suffered 2 defeats in the Major League Soccer this season.
It might be tough going out on the road again for Sporting KC, facing their second straight away game. Especially as the previous game, ended with a defeat 0-1 versus Dallas. Before that, Sporting KC secured a home win against Nashville SC with the score 2-1.
Sporting KC goalkeeper Timothy Melia had a great day against Dallas, but despite making six saves the loss could not be avoided.
As mentioned above, this is an open game with no clear favourite. We have found 13 similar matches played by Sporting KC in our archives, and the results are: four wins for Sporting KC, four draws and five defeats.
Sporting KC has another fixture away, a Major League Soccer game, against Colorado Rapids in just four days. A tough schedule for the visitors!
The travelling fans enjoy Sporting KC's attacking play in away games, having scored 11 goals in 7 league matches away. Sporting KC have conceded 7 goals in these away matches. It's worth mentioning that 4 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 away matches.
Head 2 Head
The dueling parties have met before this season: Sporting KC - Chicago 1-0. Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Chicago won three games, one match ended with a draw and Sporting KC has six wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: three / sevenTop Goalscorers
  R. Berič 7 goals |   A. Pulido Izaguirre 6 goals |  J. Russell 6 goals |
Chicago Fire missing players
Sporting KC missing players
| Chicago Fire | Sporting KC | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 17 | 9 | 1 | Played | P | 0 | 8 | 19 |
| 5 | 5 | 0 | Won | W | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | 3 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 22 | 16 | 2 | Scored | S | 0 | 12 | 30 |
| 26 | 10 | 2 | Conceded | C | 0 | 10 | 26 |
| 94% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 0% | 100% | 95% |
| 88% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 0% | 88% | 79% |
| 65% | 67% | 100% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 62% | 63% |
| 29% | 22% | 100% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 25% | 32% |
| 6% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 16% |
| 53% | 44% | 100% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 75% | 68% |
| 24% | 33% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 12% | 26% |
| 29% | 22% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 12% | 11% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2.1 | 2.2 | 5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0 | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 214 | 114 | 13 | Total Shots | T S | 0 | 96 | 303 |
| 64 | 40 | 3 | Shots on Target | S O | 0 | 29 | 85 |
| 34% | 40% | 67% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 0% | 41% | 35% |
- All of Chicago Fire's home-matches have had more than 1,5 goals.
- Chicago Fire has the fewest matches under the total-line (6) in Major League Soccer
- Chicago Fire has the most conceded goals in the second half (19) in Major League Soccer
- Chicago Fire have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Chicago Fire haven’t played a single 0-0 game at home.
- Sporting KC haven’t played a single 0-0 game away.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Toronto | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 38 |
| 2 | Philadelphia Union | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 35 |
| 3 | Columbus Crew | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 31 |
| 4 | Orlando City | 17 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 29 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 31 |
| 5 | New England | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 28 |
| 6 | New York City | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| 7 | New York RB | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 12 | -1 | 24 |
| 8 | Nashville SC | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 11 | -2 | 21 |
| 9 | Montreal Impact | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -8 | 20 |
| 10 | Atlanta United | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 | -3 | 19 |
| 11 | Chicago Fire | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 16 | -4 | 19 |
| 12 | Inter Miami | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -9 | 18 |
| 13 | Cincinnati | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 22 | -18 | 16 |
| 14 | DC United | 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 14 | -17 | 12 |