The Chicago Fire have won four straight at Toyota Park and have built an eight-match unbeaten streak at home, including three in the U.S. Open Cup.
However, playing on the road has been the opposite. The Fire (4-9-5, 17 points) still don’t have a win on the road this season and haven’t even earned a point on the road since April, a seven-game losing streak.
Saturday’s match is at New England (5-7-8, 23 points). The match will be televised on CSN+ with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. with Fire Pregame Live.
“I’m not thinking about the streak that we have on the road,” Fire forward Michael de Leeuw said. “It’s another opportunity to play and to win and we need the points because we’re six points behind. I think New England has got six points more than us, two games (played) more, so it’s an important game for us.”
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New England currently sits in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Revolution already beat the Fire at Gillette Stadium this season, 2-0 on May 14. On that day, Lee Nguyen scored following a corner kick and then Femi Hollinger-Janzen provided a late insurance goal.
Hollinger-Janzen is among a fairly lengthy injury list for the Revs. Fellow forwards Charlie Davies and Juan Agudelo will also be out.
Chicago Fire
“It was a tough, tough loss for us,” Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said of the previous game in New England. “Nobody likes that. I just remember and when I have the opportunity to play again I just want to win. I want to prepare our team to win on Saturday and we will manage that.”
That game also marked Khaly Thiam's debut for the Fire. He started and played 64 minutes in midfield. Meanwhile, that was Kei Kamara's first appearance for the Revolution after being traded from Columbus. Kamara didn't score in his first five games for the Revolution, but has since scored three goals in the past four matches.
On the Fire’s injury list are Razvan Cocis, who picked up a calf injury in the Open Cup game on Wednesday, and Joey Calistri, who is still recovering from an ankle sprain. Both are officially listed as questionable, but it would be a surprise if either play.
Chicago Fire at New England Revolution
When: 6:30 p.m. (coverage begins at 6 p.m. with Fire Pregame Live)
TV: CSN+
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.