Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 15Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire FCRed Bull Arena – HarrisonOctober 3 – 7:30 PM ET

TV: TVA Sports

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: WGN-TV

Eastern Conference foes streaking in opposite directions square off at Red Bull Arena Saturday night when the Montreal Impact host the Chicago Fire. 

The Impact (5W-8L-1D) suffered a fourth consecutive defeat, and another sending off, in a 4-1 loss to the Red Bulls at RBA Sunday night, while the Fire (4W-7L-3D) defeated Atlanta United 2-0 for their second consecutive victory Sunday at Soldier Field. 

Both teams are above the playoff line in the East, with Montreal currently in eighth, one point in front of 10th-place Chicago.

Montreal Impact

The Impact actually raced in front of the Red Bulls on a Bojan banger, but they conceded a pair of goals by Tom Barlow and a pair of goals a minute apart in the second half in a 4-1 defeat. The Impact looked gassed by the end and were again reduced to 10 before the final whistle when Luis Binks was sent off on a straight red (following Video Review) for DOGSO. The Impact returned to Montreal where they’ll have to quarantine, but they hope the trip home will recharge their batteries. 

“After four losses in a row, it couldn’t have been better timing to go back home with our loved ones and take some time off. I know that’s the case for me,” Samuel Piette said. “I think now it’ll be about taking some time off and reflecting on what we’ve done wrong, look ourselves in the mirror–each of us–and eventually when we’ll be back together look at things that we need to correct.”

On Monday, the club announced goalkeeper Evan Bush was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for a natural third-round selection in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.

Chicago Fire FC

The Fire followed an impressive 4-0 win over the Dynamo with a 2-0 win over Atlanta Sunday. Fabian Herbers and Robert Beric scored in the first half and Chicago picked up a second consecutive clean sheet. 

“We’re still in the process of finding each other, of building a team,” first-year coach Raphael Wicky said after the match. “I try to give the team a lot of consistency because we didn’t play much together before COVID. We have a lot of new players, so I think with consistency you will be able to build something.”

Series Matchup at Impact