On Thursday, starting at 14:00, the Chicago Fire – Vancouver Whitecaps match will be played in the group stage of the “MLS is back” tournament. Despite the huge share of victory, Vancouver Whitecaps is undefeated in 7 of the previous 8 direct meetings with Chicago Fire. The last duel took place on April 13, 2019, recording a draw, score 1-1 at Bridgeview. The dispute will take place in Bay Lake (Florida), as well as the rest of the matches scheduled in the “MLS is back” competition, without spectators in the stands.
The “MLS is back” tournament begins with the group stage and ends with an eliminatory play-off. The winner will qualify for the 2021 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, and the 2020 MLS season will resume after this competition.
Chicago Fire alternated the positive developments with the negative ones in 2020, as evidenced by the course of the first two stages of the “MLS is back” group phase. The team coached by Raphael Wicky defeated Seattle Sounders in the first match, score 2-1, then lost to San Jose Earthquakes, score 0-2. Earlier in the regular season of MLS, Chicago Fire had lost to Seattle Sounders, 1-2, and with New England Revolution ticked one point, due to the 1-1 draw.
Vancouver Whitecaps is one of the most attractive teams in the group stage, but more due to the poor defense. The Canadians trained by Marc Dos Santos lost both previous disputes, score 3-4 with San Jose Earthquakes, respectively 0-3 with Seattle Sounders. But now comes a duel with Chicago Fire, an opponent that Vancouver Whitecaps has respected in 7 of the previous 8 direct disputes.
Chicago Fire won 4 US Open Cup and 1 MLS Cup;
Hristo Stoichkov (2000-2002) scored 24 goals for the “red-blues”;
Vancouver Whitecaps once won the Voyagers Cup (2015);
In the group of “white-blues” is the prolific Colombian striker Fredy Montero;
PREDICTION: Chicago Fire to win @ 1,58
