Philadelphia Union Vs Chicago Fire Betting Tip: Draw – 13 August 2022

Jack Elliott / Philadelphia Union ©IMAGO/ZUMA Wire 06/18/2022

United States Philadelphia Union Vs Chicago Fire United States

Sunday, 14 August 2022 – 00:30 (BST)
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Draw
Odds: 3/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 12 August 2022)

Preview: Something may have to give at Subaru Park, where the only remaining unbeaten home record in MLS 2022 comes under scrutiny from the visit of Chicago Fire. The latter are in red hot form, would avoid defeat here in 2021, and have already gotten the better of Philadelphia Union once this season.

US Major League Soccer Betting at Betfair

 

Philadelphia Union – Swift return to winning ways for best in the East?

MLS’ Eastern Conference standings are still headed by Philadelphia Union (W12 D9 L3) who lost for the first time since June last time out, going down 3-1 on the road to FC Cincinnati. A run of five straight victories, comprising wide-margins successes against DC United (7-0) and Houston Dynamo (6-0) here at Sunday’s venue, Subaru Park, preceded what was the heaviest loss for Jim Curtin’s men of this season.

Perhaps it was a bad day at the office in Cincy. In that game, though, the Union gave up three goals from 1.91 xG – the latter their third highest xGA posted in MLS this year – as they conceded more than twice in league play for the first time in 2022. Moreover, it would mark their widest margin of defeat for more than a year: a 3-1 scoreline away at DC United, which was followed by a 1-0 home reverse to New England.

Key Stat: Philadelphia Union are targetting a fifth successive MLS home win, scoring at least twice in each of their four previous victories at Subaru Park where they are the only team in this year’s competition thus far not to incur a home loss (W7 D5).

 

Xherdan Shaqiri To Score/Away Win or Draw
11/2

Betfair

 

Chicago Fire – Henderickson’s men to bring the heat to Philly?

This team is still blisteringly hot and climbing the Eastern Conference standings at a steady pace. Victory in the last round away to Charlotte saw Xherdan Shaqiri continue his purple patch, registering assists nine and ten as the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich playmaker hunts down Luciano Acosta in the overall assist standings, and Chicago Fire strengthen their claims for a top seven placement.

Should they achieve that, it would ensure post-regular season involvement for the first time since 2017, having missed the cut the last four occasions. The players certainly appear to be playing with that objective in mind. Dropping just two of the last 15 points (W4 D1), Ezra Henderickson and his team are up into eight spot and targetting their third away win in a row – a feat not seen at this club for more than 13 years.

Key Stat: Chicago Fire are unbeaten for five MLS matches (W4 D1), recording as many clean sheets over the course of this run (3) as they managed in their 14 previous outings in the competition (W2 D2 L10).

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Philadelphia Union Vs Chicago Fire Betting Advice

Jim Curtin’s Philadelphia Union haven’t dabbled in many losses this term, explaining their lofty position in both the Eastern Conference (first place) and overall (second, trailing LAFC by six points). However, when they have sampled the bitter taste of a loss – 2-1 at Toronto FC in April, 1-0 at Chicago Fire at the end of June – it has taken them time to find their bearings, failing to win the very next encounter both times.

 

Philadelphia Union vs Chicago Fire – Key Facts:

  • Prior to a 1-1 draw last season, Philadelphia Union had won all five previous MLS encounters in Philadelphia between the teams, scoring 14 and conceding six in these games.
  • However, last week’s 3-1 loss away to FC Cincinnati has halted the momentum of Philadelphia Union, who were enjoying a five-game winning run beforehand – racking up 18 goals in the process, with 15 coming in just three home games.
  • If anyone can live with this Union team at Subaru Park, perhaps it is Chicago Fire? The latter arrive unbeaten in five (W4 D1) and seeking to win a third away outing in a row, following on from 3-1 and 3-2 successes in Charlotte and Vancouver.

 

So I am happy to swerve the 7/10 about the home side winning this. Realistically, with Union clinging on to the sole unbeaten home record in MLS, that only leaves the draw. Chicago Fire, unbeaten in five (W4 D1), are peaking right now, and are coming off 3-1 and 3-2 successes away to Vancouver Whitecaps and Charlotte FC. But they’ve not won in Philly since 2013, losing five straight prior to a 1-1 scoreline last year.

Best Betting Odds – Philadlephia Union Vs Chicago Fire

Philadelphia Union – 7/10 (WilliamHill)
Draw – 3/1 (Bet365)
Chicago Fire – 4/1 (Betfair)