CHICAGO FIRE vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
TOYOTA PARK, Bridgeview, Illinois
APRIL 16, 2016 (WEEK 7, MLS GAME #57)
5 pm ET (TVA Sports, CSN Plus, MLS LIVE)
A pair of Eastern Conference clubs off to good starts in the new season meet for the first time this season when the Chicago Fire play host to the Montréal Impact on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Park. The Fire have put together a four-game undefeated run, returning home off a 1-1 draw with New York City FC last weekend at Yankee Stadium. The Impact sit atop the Eastern standings, snapping a two-game losing skid with a 2-0 win against Columbus Crew SC last weekend at Olympic Stadium.
- The Fire recorded a third consecutive shutout and extended their undefeated streak to four games with their scoreless draw with New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The Fire and goalkeeper Matt Lampson have not conceded a goal for 356 minutes, the second longest shutout streak in club history (longest: 395 minutes in 2009).
- The Impact snapped a two-game losing run and moved back atop the Eastern Conference with their 2-0 win against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday afternoon at Stade Olympique.
- The visiting team has never won in the series. The Fire won last May 30 in the only meeting at Toyota Park, their first home win vs. the Impact since 2013 and snapping an overall four-game winless streak in the series.
- The Impact won both meetings last year at Stade Saputo, a 4-3 win on Sept. 5 and a 2-1 win Sept. 23. They have won the last three meetings in Montreal.
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Peter Balciunas; AR2 (opposite): Kyle Longville; 4th: Fotis Bazakos
MLS Career: 278 games; FC/gm: 25.4; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 69; pens: 72
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): Fire 3 wins, 16 goals … Impact 4 wins, 15 goals … Ties 4
AT CHICAGO (5 meetings): Fire 3 wins, 10 goals … Impact 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 2
RETURN MATCH: 8/20: Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/30: CHI 3, MTL 0 (Shipp 13; Larentowicz 45; Igboananike 72)
9/5: MTL 4, CHI 3 (Drogba 27, 61, 65; Lefevre 42 – Larentowicz 36; Gilberto 44; Igboananike 59)
9/23: MTL 2, CHI 1 (Drogba 39; Romero 76 – Accam 50)
- The visiting team has never won in the series. The Fire won last May 30 in the only meeting at Toyota Park, their first home win vs. the Impact since 2013 and snapping an overall four-game winless streak in the series.
- The Impact won both meetings last year at Stade Saputo, a 4-3 win on Sept. 5 and a 2-1 win Sept. 23. They have won the last three meetings in Montréal.
- Coaches record: Veljko Paunovic vs. MTL: first game … Mauro Biello vs. CHI: P2 W2 L0 D0
