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Chicago Fire
Major League Soccer
Sep 1, 2024 at 1.30am UK
Soldier Field
Inter Miami

Chicago Fire
1 - 4
Inter Miami

Koutsias (82')
Cuypers (29'), Czichos (64')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Salquist (25' og.), Suarez (46', 65'), Taylor (90+3')
Fray (45'), Redondo (58'), Suarez (76'), Martinez (79'), Cremaschi (83')

Preview: Chicago Fire vs. Inter Miami - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The Chicago Fire can move into a playoff position with a victory on Saturday and some help as they welcome Inter Miami to Soldier Field.

A 2-2 draw versus New York City FC last weekend put the Fire within two points of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS), while the Herons continue to lead the East, sitting eight points clear of FC Cincinnati, who they defeated 2-0 last Saturday.


Match preview

 Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady on August 24, 2024© Imago

Out of the blue, the Fire were able to get back into a match that seemed all but over last weekend, erasing a two-goal deficit versus NYCFC with fewer than 15 minutes remaining.

Throughout the 2024 campaign, the Fire have had to rescue themselves from early deficits plenty of times, claiming eight points in this competition when trailing after 45 minutes.

Head coach Frank Klopas has rarely seen his players begin matches well, without an opening half goal in their last five MLS affairs.

Five of their final eight regular-season matches take place in the Windy City, where they have points in four successive league contests.

With 26 points after 26 domestic encounters, the Fire have picked up six fewer than they had at this stage of the previous MLS campaign.

Chicago have a perfect 3-0 record at home versus the Herons, claiming a 4-1 victory at Soldier Field in this exact fixture last year.

 Leo Afonso and Leonardo Campana of Inter Miami on August 3, 2024© Imago

Despite incurring a slew of key injuries throughout the campaign, it remains full speed ahead for Inter Miami, who are running away with the Supporters' Shield trophy.

Tata Martino's men have already set a club record for points in a single season, currently four above the Los Angeles Galaxy for the best record in the league, having played one match fewer.

Miami are on pace to set a new MLS single-season points record, currently 17 below that benchmark held by the 2021 New England Revolution (73), with 24 points up for grabs between now and the end of the regular season.

In 2024, the Herons have won eight times away from home in this competition, smashing their previous single-season club record of five set in 2021, with only Cincinnati winning more road contests domestically this year (nine).

All year long, their attacking depth has carried them to victory, with the Herons held goalless in only two MLS affairs in 2024 and 14 different players finding the back of the net for them in this competition.

The Herons have won four of their last five league contests away from home but were manhandled in their previous one, losing 6-1 at Cincinnati.

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:


Chicago Fire form (all competitions):


Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:


Inter Miami form (all competitions):



Team News

Chicago Fire FC head coach Frank Klopas shouts on March 5, 2024© Reuters

Against New York City, the Fire were without Carlos Teran due to a leg issue, and Chase Gasper was sidelined because of a hamstring injury.

Fabian Herbers could be a question mark once again this weekend with a leg injury, while Ariel Lassiter is eligible to return from his yellow card suspension.

Hugo Cuypers cut the NYCFC deficit in half last Saturday, scoring his team-leading 10th of the domestic campaign before Brian Gutierrez converted a penalty in second-half stoppage time to give his side a point.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi is back training with the team but remains questionable to return this weekend with an ankle injury, Julian Gressel sat out of their previous encounter due to an unknown issue, while Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias are still dealing with ACL injuries.

Tomas Aviles will have to sit out on Saturday after the Argentine received a pair of cautions in their match against Cincinnati.

Luis Suarez netted a brace for the Herons last Saturday, as he is up to 14 in his first MLS campaign, tied with Daniel Gazdag of the Philadelphia Union for third in the Golden Boot race.

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Souquet, Salquist, Czichos; Mueller, Acosta, Gimenez, Gutman; Haile-Selassie, Cuypers, Gutierrez

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Kryvtsov, Busquets, Martinez; Weigandt, Ruiz, Redondo, Alba; Campana, Suarez, Gomez


SM words green background

We say: Chicago Fire 1-4 Inter Miami

It feels as though nothing can slow down the Herons in MLS this season, and their attacking depth and creativity in midfield should be more than enough to see off a Chicago side still seeking consistency from one match to the next.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami

Chicago Fire
19.0%
Draw
4.8%
Inter Miami
76.2%
42
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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