CHICAGO FIRE vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
October 25, 2015 (WEEK 34, MLS Game #333)
7 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE)
While it’s the only Decision Day match that will not have a direct bearing on the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs lineup, there are still massive implications ahead when the Chicago Fire play host to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday at Toyota Park. The Red Bulls have already clinched the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference, but now have the Supporters’ Shield ahead of them, which they can claim by matching or bettering the FC Dallas result vs. San Jose, which is now occurring simultaneously. The Red Bulls are coming off a dominant 4-1 win against Philadelphia Union last weekend, while the Fire, eliminated from playoff contention, ended their road season with a 4-0 loss at D.C. United.
- The Fire completed the 2015 season winless on the road, following their 4-0 defeat at D.C. United on Sunday afternoon. They are the seventh team in league history not to win a single road game during a season, the third in the last three seasons; they conclude the season with a 25-game road winless streak, tied for second-longest in MLS history, behind the New York Red Bulls’ mark over 2008-09.
- Mike Grella’s scored the first of his two goals after just seven seconds – the fastest goal in Major League Soccer history – as the Red Bulls secured first place in the Eastern Conference with their 4-1 win against Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena.
- The teams are meeting for the third time this season, splitting the first two. Kennedy Igboananike scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the 73rd minute that capped a Fire comeback, pulling them back to a 3-2 victory Aug. 26 at Toyota Park. On Sept. 11, a late Sacha Kljestan penalty kick snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Red Bulls the victory at Red Bull Arena.
- The Red Bulls have never won at Toyota Park. Their last away win against Chicago came May 14, 2005, a 3-0 win at Soldier Field. Since then, the Fire are unbeaten in their last 14 home games in the league series (9-0-5).
REFEREE:
Ricardo Salazar. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Hanson; 4th: Mathieu Bourdeau
MLS Career: 212 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 60; pens: 72
SUSPENDED:
none
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CHI: Eric Gehrig, Kennedy Igboananike, Jeff Larentowicz … NYR: Felipe Martins, Damian Perrinelle
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
A\LL-TIME (50 meetings):\
Fire 26 wins (0 shootout), 85 goals … Red Bulls 14 wins (0 shootout), 64 goals … Ties 10
AT CHICAGO (25 meetings): Fire 15 wins (0 shootout), 45 goals … Red Bulls 3 wins (0 shootout), 23 goals … Ties 7
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