Chicago Fire Vs Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire Vs Philadelphia Union Thursday, 30 June 2022 – 01:00 (BST)
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Draw
Odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 27 June 2022)
Preview: Relief was palpable last time out at Soldier Field as Chicago Fire avoided equalling a club-record 11 straight winless games by producing a slender victory over DC United. Next up here are Philadelphia Union, the new Eastern Conference leaders and a side which hasn’t lost an MLS fixture in more than two months.
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Table of Contents
Chicago Fire – Solace to be found at Soldier Field?
Ezra Hendrickson, speaking after his side’s 1-0 home win against DC United, on 19 June, which snapped a 10-game winless streak, had challenged his players to approach the very next game with the mindset that “we’re not going to lose.” His team duly went and lost 2-0 Sunday night, a bright performance away to the Houston Dynamo going unrewarded, to leave them on 14 points after 16 games (W3 D5 L8).
No team in the entire MLS is accruing points at a slower pace than Chicago Fire, who remain rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference standings, some nine points adrift of FC Cincinnati in seventh and the MLS Play-Offs. Their record of W2 D3 L2 at Soldier Field, while still the worst league-wide, is respectable though. With their only home defeats thus far both coming in narrow fashion (2-1 vs Cincinnati and NYRB).
Key Stat: No MLS side has failed to score in more games this season than Chicago Fire, who have fired blanks in 8 of 16 league games thus far and includes three of seven outings at Soldier Field.
Philadelphia Union – Unbeaten sequence verging on double digits?
We have new pacesetters in the East. Despite going into last Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash against New York City on the back of some questionable, if solid, form, Philadelphia Union now sit atop the Eastern Conference. Cory Burke scoring a fortuitous winner in the fifth minute of time added on of the second-half to settle an enthralling – and ultimately controversial – encounter at a sunny Subaru Park in Philly.
Union are now unbeaten in nine (W2 D7) since sustaining their only defeat of the season in April, a 2-1 reverse on the road to Toronto FC – a contest they were incredibly unfortunate to come out of as the losing side (xG that day: TOR 0.37 – 1.77 PHI). It was almost a case of deja vu, though, against NYCFC, who very nearly nicked a result late on despite being second best, especially in the first half, to Jim Curtin’s men.
Key Stat: Philadelphia Union boast the best defensive record in MLS, allowing just 12 goals through 16 games (0.75 per game). Jim Curtin’s side would concede no more than once in 14 of these games, but are currently without a clean sheet in their last three.
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Chicago Fire Vs Philadelphia Union Betting Advice
Their two previous league meetings resulted in the points being evenly shared. That is the standout selection for me, at 11/5. Chicago Fire are enduring a wretched season, of that there is no doubt, but only two teams – FC Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls – have gone to Chicago and won an MLS contest in 2022. That, coupled with Philly’s penchant for drawing (seven of last nine games), points to there being value in the stalemate.
Chicago Fire Vs Philadelphia Union – Key Facts:
- The past two head-to-heads have ended in draws (3-3 in Chicago, 1-1 in Philadelphia – both during 2021). This after there had been a decisive outcome in 11 consecutive MLS matches between the teams (4 wins for Chicago Fire, 7 for Philadelphia Union).
- Whereas Philadelphia Union will be out to extend a nine-game unbeaten run in league action (W2 D7), Chicago Fire are looking to avoid losing their ninth MLS match in 12 (W1 D1 L8).
- Chicago Fire would score no more than a single goal in all but one of seven MLS home games in 2022. Philadelphia Union haven’t conceded more than once in 14 of 16 league games this season.
MLS matches are seeing, on average, 2.72 goals per game. However, Chicago Fire (44% for Under 2.5 Goals this season) and Philadelphia Union (25%) must accept some responsibility for keep that average down. Moreover, both teams completed their 16th MLS game this past weekend; this season Chicago Fire rank the worst for goals scored (14) while no team has conceded fewer than the 12 of Philadelphia Union.
Best Betting Odds – Chicago Fire Vs Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire – 13/10 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 11/5 (WilliamHill)
Philadelphia Union – 21/10 (Bet365)
