Enemy Scouting Report - Chicago Fire
(image via Chicago Fire FC)
The Houston Dynamo are in the midst of a three-game winning streak after triumphing over San Jose last weekend. It was a frustrating 80 minutes for the Dynamo before they found the back of the net twice in less than five minutes, securing all three points at home against the Earthquakes. Next up, the team faces an away match against the Chicago Fire this Saturday.
Chicago has faced struggles in recent years, failing to make the playoffs since 2017 and only qualifying once in the last 11 seasons. Houston Dynamo fans can certainly empathize with their plight. However, the Fire made a significant move by appointing club legend Frank Klopas as their head coach last season, aiming to revive the winning culture of yesteryears. Klopas faces a considerable challenge ahead in the Windy City.
During the offseason, Chicago bolstered their roster with much-needed talent, acquiring players such as Tobias Salquist, Kellyn Acosta, and Hugo Cuypers. Cuypers arrived as a club-record transfer from K.A.A Gent. A Belgian striker, he scored 45 goals in 69 appearances with Gent in the Belgian Pro League over two seasons. Cuypers has already netted 2 goals in his first 6 games with the Fire, emerging as a key player for Ben Olsen and his team to contain.
Among Chicago's roster, Xherdan Shaqiri stands out as the most talented player. Though his tenure in Chicago hasn't been particularly glamorous, Shaqiri possesses the skill set to change the course of any game. He exhibits unpredictability with the ball at his feet, boasting two strong feet, exceptional vision, and clinical finishing. Houston will need to deliver a flawless performance to secure a positive result at Soldier Stadium.
Chicago Fire Record: 1W-2D-3L
Results in the last 30 days:
March 2 – Chicago 1-2 Cincinnati
March 9 - Columbus 2-1 Chicago
March 16 - Chicago 4-3 Montreal
March 23 - New England 1-1 Chicago
March 31 - Atlanta 3-0 Chicago
Past Match Staring XI (from fotmob.com)
There will likely be some variation but look to see many of the players in the graphic starting.
2024 Active Roster
Goalkeepers: Spencer Richey, Jeffrey Gal, Chris Brady
Defenders: Arnaud Souquet, Carlos Teran, Rafael Czichos, Tobias Salquist, Andrew Gutman, Wyatt Omsberg, Jonathan Dean, Allan Arigoni, Chase Gasper
Midfielders: Maren Haile-Selassie, Xherdan Shaqiri, Brian Gutierrez, Fabian Herbers, Mauricio Pineda, Kellyn Acosta, Gaston Gimenez, Federico Navarro, Sergio Oregel, Javier Casas
Forwards: Chris Mueller, Hugo Cuypers, Tom Barlow, Georgios Koutsias
Can the Houston Dynamo earn more points on the road against the Fire?
